by: Heather (LostSheep3)

The roar of the shot-gun startles me as I lay there in the straw, looking up at my uncle through a red haze of anger. Unable to do otherwise, I obey Jesse’s words and stand, but I can’t shake Luke’s hand…I can’t forgive him. I know in that moment what I need to do…what I have to do for myself.

I can see the sadness in Uncle Jesse’s eyes as I tell him that I have to leave, that I can’t see another way. When he puts his arm around me and tells me he loves me, and that the farm will always be my home, it nearly breaks my heart. I can only nod in acknowledgement as I climb into the General, knowing that I’ll never be back.

Tears cloud my vision as I drive away from the only home I have ever known, hurting and angry, upset…I just wish I could make Luke see.

“Why can’t he see!?” I slap the steering wheel as I head in the direction of the fairgrounds. “Diane ain’t like that. She ain’t what he says she is! He’s just jealous! I know he is!” I pull to the side of the road as my vision blurs. “He knows he couldn’t make that jump…he knows that I’m the only one who can, the only one with the guts to try! Ha, sayin’ I ain’t man enough to fight him…I showed him! Luke just thinks he’s hot stuff. Thinks he’s better’n me. I’ll show him – I’ll show all of them!”

Wiping my eyes I throw the car into drive and hit the gas, taking the well-known roads toward the fairgrounds at breakneck speed, handling the General like a pro…the pro that I want to be, that I know I am. “He ain’t half the driver I am.” Growling, unable to let go of the anger boiling inside me for Luke Duke.

“He’s gutless……..Jealous…sayin’ I ain’t got no brains. What right does he have? He thinks he’s so much better’n I am. I’ll show him!”

Turning the wheel hard, I slide as I make the turn into the Fairgrounds gunning the engine once again, then, screeching to a stop next to Diane’s camper-trailer.

My mind spins as I storm inside, barely even seeing Diane at first, so angry, and frustrated that it’s come to this. But her smile makes it all much better, I know as I look at her that Luke has to be wrong…he just has to be, how could someone so sweet and sincere be using me.

I put my arms around her as I ask her if the offer of a place to stay is still open, and can’t help but laugh at her response.

Gazing at her, I’m distracted by other thoughts, thoughts of this beautiful young woman I’ve come to love. When she smiles her face lights up, and so does my world. Her laugh is the sweetest music to my ears. Her touch makes me feel more alive than I have ever felt before, more alive even than jumping the General.

I wish Luke could see her like this…blue eyes shining, a smile lighting her face as I tell her that I’m here to stay. I can see the hope that my promise to jump brings her. How could he even think of asking me to go back on my promise to her? I can’t crush her dreams of reviving her stunt show like that. I can’t do that to this sweet, gentle, beautiful woman…I’m her only hope…I’m the only one who can make those dreams come true. No one else in the county has the guts to make that 32 car jump…I’m the only one willing to try for her…and I’d do anything to keep that hope alive in her soul.

She’s making my dreams come true too, keeping my hope alive. I have wanted to be a professional driver since the first time I ever sat behind the wheel of Jesse’s old shine runner. I knew then that I was born to drive, to send cars flying, to push my car and myself to our limits.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of going around a dirt track at a hundred and ten miles an hour. Or send a car soaring over a stream, betting that you’re a good enough driver that you and the car land in one piece. I know I’m good, the best in the county – but until I met Diane I didn’t know how to get from the dirt tracks of Hazzard to the professional tracks of NASCAR….or into the world of professional stunt driving. Thanks to her, I’m getting my chance, getting the chance to show the world just what Bo Duke is capable of. She is making my dream come true, and I love her for it.

She looks up at me and asks what’s wrong, why am I looking at her like that. My response is a warm smile, a small laugh. “Nothin’s wrong…in fact things couldn’t be better” I whisper, leaning in to catch strawberry red lips in a gentle kiss.

She wraps her arms around me and returns the kiss. As I hold her, all thought leaves my mind…for now there is only her, the girl of my dreams, the one I can’t imagine my life without.

As I leave the camper sometime later, I let out a whoop. Even though Luke and I aren’t getting along, all is right with my world…I’m in love with the most beautiful woman in the world, I’ve got the money I need to start paying Luke for his half of the General, and soon, I’ll be known all over the state as the hometown boy to make an impossible jump. All of my dreams are about to come true…I’m on top of the world.

by: Meadowmufn

Rosco and Enos sat quietly in a corner booth of the Boar’s Nest, surveying the Saturday night crowd. In a small town like Hazzard, most of the action, and the trouble, on a Saturday night was at the local watering hole. Both officers made it a point to spend a few hours of their overlapping shifts on Saturday nights keeping an eye on the rowdies and by extension, protecting Boss Hogg’s business.

The two men spoke occasionally while sipping root beer, Enos sharing the day’s events from his shift and Rosco going over general Sheriff’s Department business and shifts for the upcoming week.

The Sheriff enjoyed his Saturday nights at the Boar’s Nest, as he felt more like the sheriff he used to be and less like a man who’d been bought. Plus, Rosco genuinely liked his junior officer and was proud of him, though he’d never admit that to Enos. Enos enjoyed it too. Rosco’s complicity in Boss’ schemes disturbed him, though he understood Rosco’s motivation. Still, he liked the old sheriff best, the one that used to be the best lawman in the state. Every Saturday night, he got a glimpse of that man and it made it a little easier to overlook his superior officer’s faults.

After an hour or two of relative calm, Enos excused himself and bid goodnight to the sheriff. As Enos neared the front door, a gang of leather-clad bikers entered. The apparent leader of the gang shoved the deputy aside, causing him to crash into a nearby table, showering popcorn and beer in every direction. Before his deputy hit the floor, Rosco was on his feet. “Awright! Just freeze it right there,” he shouted, pointing at the thugs. He quickly shuffled over to help Enos to his feet and then strode over to the gang leader.

Standing toe to toe with the gang leader, Rosco’s courage shrank a little when he realized the sheer size and bulk of the man. Rosco mustered what courage he had and declared, “Ahm the sheriff in these parts and the man you just shoved is my deputy. I don’t take too kindly to folks assaultin’ mah officers, so unless you wanna spend all weekend in the hoose gow, ah suggest you an’ yer gang clear out of here.” Rosco emphasized his point by thrusting his thumb in the direction of the front door.

“Well, sheriff,” the thug replied as he poked an index finger into Rosco’s chest, “you got things all wrong here. Your deputy ran into ME.” He paused and flashed a sinister smile and looked to the men on either side of him. “I have witnesses, right boys?” The gang of 6 men behind him grunted affirmation. “So, sheriff, unless you want me to pursue charges of police brutality, I suggest you let us all just grab a beer and enjoy our Saturday night.”

The gang leader walked past Rosco, his shoulder knocking the sheriff off balance. Rosco quickly recovered and his hand went automatically to his belt, releasing his handcuffs in one swift motion. He turned and grabbed the man’s arm from behind, twisting it behind his back as he shoved him into the bar. “You have the right to remain silent…” he said as he slapped the cuffs on one wrist and reached for the other. When the man resisted, Enos came alongside the sheriff to assist, only to receive a swift boot to the gut from the arrestee.
Rosco shoved the man hard against the bar, struggling to get the other wrist cuffed. A hand grabbed his shoulder and whirled him around. Before he could get his bearings, one of the thugs took a swing at his head, landing a punch squarely on his jaw. Rosco’s head snapped back and he dropped to the ground with a muffled thud. The Dukes rushed forward to check on Enos and Rosco, only to be met with flying fists themselves. They blocked the first salvo and ducked as they sought an opening to land their own punches.

People quickly took sides, most rushing to the aid of the Dukes and the Hazzard law, some outlaws siding with the bikers, and some slipping out the door and out of the fray. Uncle Jesse carefully escorted his beer through the melee to the quietest corner of the bar.

Cooter, never one to resist a good fight, got a running start and flung himself bodily at several of the gang members, flattening them in one swift motion while the Dukes scuffled with the gang leader and his lieutenants.

Enos cautiously crawled towards the sheriff, arm pressed firmly against his aching gut. The sheriff laid on his back, obviously dazed. “Sheriff?” Enos patted his cheek lightly. “Sheriff?” Rosco moaned as he slowly rolled over on to his side and attempted to get up. “You ok, sheriff?” Enos asked. “I’ve been better, Enos,” Rosco groaned. A body came flying their way and the two law officers ducked instinctively. It flew directly over them and crashed into a nearby table.

Rosco looked at his deputy, “Enos, we gotta get this under control.” Rosco withdrew his revolver and aimed it skyward. Before he could fire, a foot kicked the firearm from his hand. A split second later, the foot swung back at Rosco’s head. He ducked as Enos grabbed the assailant’s leg and pulled, toppling him backwards. He quickly scrambled away, out of the law’s reach and back into the fray. Rosco and Enos looked at each other for a brief second and then bound to their feet after the man, ducking and swerving to avoid punches and flying debris.

The Dukes had their hands full with the leader of the gang. He took punch after punch and barely slowed down, yet each of his blows felt like a sledge hammer against their jaws. After absorbing a particularly brain-rattling blow, Luke suddenly found himself held aloft unsteadily over the biker’s head. Daisy came to Luke’ rescue, or tried to anyway, by smashing a chair into the lead biker’s mid-section. The thug lost his grip and Luke careened into Bo, knocking both of them to the ground.

“Oh my gosh! Luke! Bo! I’m so sorry…” Daisy apologized, rushing to her cousins’ aid. Before she could offer a hand to help, the lead biker grabbed her. “Let me go!” she yelled, fists pummeling his chest. Hearing Daisy’s cries, Enos and Rosco abandoned their quarry and made their way through the skirmishing crowd towards her. Enos came up behind the man and tried to get him in a headlock, but the man was so tall, Enos couldn’t gain any leverage. The biker shrugged him off like he was a mosquito. The sheriff watched his deputy hit the floor with a thud.

Finally pushed past the breaking point, Rosco launched himself from atop a chair onto the man’s back, locking one arm around the brute’s neck and covering his eyes with his other arm. This tactic had the desired effect and the man loosened his grip on Daisy. Luke grabbed his cousin and tried to rescue her from the biker’s grip. Seeing Daisy caught in a tug of war, Enos rushed to Luke’s aid. With additional help from Bo, they wrenched her from the man’s grasp. Daisy tumbled forward as the biker and Rosco tumbled backwards, slamming into the bar. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of Rosco. His momentum carried him over the bar and he slumped to the ground on the other side amongst a growing mound of debris from the fight.

The lead biker growled in discontent, glowering at everyone in front of him. Everyone shrank back a bit, unsure of what the man was capable. He stepped forward and everyone took a step back. He raised his arms out to his sides and let out a primal scream of rage, tensing every muscle in his body.

“Uh oh,” Enos gulped. “I think we made him mad.”

“You mean he wasn’t already?!” Bo asked, incredulous.

The biker snorted and pointed at the cousins. “You’re dead!” he screamed, purple faced and shaking with rage.

“No. You’re under arrest!” Rosco yelled as he jumped from atop the bar, striking the thug over the head with a broken chair leg he’d found on the floor behind the bar. The behemoth didn’t move, as if he never even felt the blow to his head. He just stared straight ahead, unblinking for a few seconds. His knees then buckled and the giant crumpled to the ground as if in slow motion.

Everyone stared at the felled giant for a second, then Luke kneeled to check his vital signs. “He’s ok, just knocked cold.”

“Enos, cuff him!” Rosco ordered. The sheriff disappeared into the still skirmishing crowd as his deputy followed his orders.

Shortly afterwards, a gunshot thundered through the tavern. Rosco had recovered his revolver. The sheriff smiled in satisfaction as everyone froze in place. “Awwwwright now,” Rosco drawled. “I want all of you bikers to line up against that wall.” The now leaderless gang complied grudgingly. Rosco ordered Enos to call for backup as he kept watch on the lineup of thugs.

As Daisy and the other employees of the Boar’s Nest started the arduous task of cleaning up the place, Boss Hogg walked through the front door. Taking in the utter ruin before him, Boss let out a yell, “GAAAAAAAAAAH! Rosco!? What in tarnation?! Who did this?! What happened here?!”

Dumbfounded, Rosco stuttered, trying to think of how best to quickly explain the situation. At a loss, he looked at Enos. Enos looked at the Dukes. Finally, Bo chimed in, “Just another Boar’s Nest Saturday Night, Boss!”

by: Yva J. (aka Enos Fan)

As the sun rose in the distance, Jesse Duke stared out across the emptiness of the green pasture. His aged eyes were filled with life, although the doctor had told him more often than not to slow down and take it easy. “You should be retired, Mr. Duke,” the man had said, his voice filled with concern. “That means resting and relaxing and not doing so much hard work.”

Jesse had retorted with an irritated sigh, but had said nothing.

If the truth were known, he had been working this hard since he was a youngster, and far be it for him to stop now, just because his body had decided to start playing tricks with him.

He took a deep breath as the cool breeze ruffled his beard. As he released an irritated snort, his thoughts returned to the know-it-all doctor who was going about giving him orders. Leave it to those youngsters to tell him such a thing, he thought. Did they not know that hard work was the key to his vitality? If they had actually subjected themselves to the work he had done throughout his life, then perhaps they would not be so quick to be telling him what to do now that he was older. They may hold a degree in medicine, but that did not mean they knew what was in a man’s heart. They would eventually have to learn to do that just as he had done throughout his own life.

He rubbed his hands down over his belly, the familiar denim of his overalls meeting his wrinkled fingers. On a day like this, there was nothing but gladness in the air, and he would be darned if he were to sit around the house staring at four walls when there was work to be done.

“What a morning,” he breathed in the cool Georgia air as he stretched his hands over his head and allowed his back to stretch in the same manner as a cat would. “There are chores to be done,” he said to the stillness, “but not just yet.” This particular morning was special and he had crawled out of bed extra early to watch as the sun rose across the horizon.

He had a great many things to think about, today was the day the very last mortgage payment on the farm was due. Once the money was dropped off, the farm would belong to the Duke family, and J.D. Hogg would no longer be able to hold his hand over the land or the people who worked it.

The envelope with the money was tucked securely in the pocket of his overalls and he decided that this time he would not be rushing into town at the last possible minute to make the payment as he usually did. Instead, he would go in early and personally hand the money to Hogg himself with a smile and a customary slap on the shoulder. He would finally hold the deed to the land in his hand, and this, he would be able to pass on Bo, Luke, and Daisy. This would indeed be a day the Duke family would celebrate.

So much had changed in Hazzard, yet so much remained the same. The farm seemed to be the one constant in his life, and his eyes sometimes became misted over whenever he thought about how much joy was present there. He remained on the porch, but instead of staying on his feet, he seated himself on the chair close to the door leading into the kitchen.

After several minutes had passed, he heard a distant sound split the silence and he raised his head to see that a white dot in the distance appeared on the horizon. It looked to be the size of a needle’s eye, but soon grew to the size of a car. As it came closer, the noise from the motor filled the air and he groaned when he recognized what was coming towards the farmhouse.

“It’s six thirty in the dang morning,” he grumbled under his breath. Inhaling sharply, he slowly got to his feet and dug into the pocket that held his worn out silver watch. As he opened the cover, he stared down at the face of it, the two hands presently on the roman numeral six. “What in Sam Hill does Rosco want at this hour?” He muttered as he returned the watch to his pocket.

Minutes later, the car stopped and the driver got out, but instead of it being Rosco, it turned out to be was Enos Strate the Sheriff’s Deputy of Hazzard County. Jesse liked Enos, but he often wondered if he would ever really grow up. The Deputy seemed more like a child in the body of a man, innocent and sometimes incredibly naïve. It was easy for the Duke family to take advantage of his brand of naïveté, but Enos also seemed to come back for more and considered their family to be his best friends in the world.

Jesse watched as Enos disembarked the police cruiser and walked slowly over to him. The younger man was dressed in his civilian clothing, not even his deputy’s hat graced the crown of his head. Instead the breeze gently ruffled his hair, sometimes blowing it in his eyes.

The Deputy’s head seemed to be adrift in the clouds and this left the elder of the two to question why it was the deputy had come at all. What was his ultimate purpose for showing up at the Duke farm at this hour and out of uniform? Instead of raising a series of compounding questions, which were of very little significance, Jesse watched as the younger man approached him and spoke, his voice etched with nervousness.

“Uncle Jesse, I’m sorry to disturb you this morning,” he began as his eyes sought those of the older man. Enos always called Jesse ‘Uncle Jesse’ although it had long ago been established that there was no kinship between the two men. Somehow, over time, Jesse had become a surrogate uncle for the insecure county deputy.

“What can I do for you, Enos?” Jesse eventually asked. “It’s six thirty in the morning.”

“I know,” he said as he rubbed his hand through his dark brown hair. This only succeeded in making the hair fly about, giving Enos the hairstyle that resembled a bottlebrush. As he came up on the porch, he motioned towards a couple of chairs that were placed nearby. “Do you mind if I sit down?” He asked.

“Not at all, just tell me what you’re doing here,” came the response, but after several minutes, Jesse took a deep breath. “Did something happen? Is it J.D.?”

For whatever reason, Jesse felt it was right of him to ask about the welfare of the County Commissioner, even if the two men despised one another. At the same time, he also knew that no one would be showing up at this hour unless there was something wrong. It was no secret, as with himself, Boss Hogg was getting up there in years as well. He also knew that he could not live with his conscience if something were to happen to him without showing the customary concern for his fellow man.

“No Sir,” the deputy whispered. “As far as a know, Mr. Hogg is alright.”

“Then what in tar-nation are you doing here?” Jesse asked.

“I-I just wanted to help make sure that you got your mortgage payment to Mr. Hogg before three this afternoon. I heard the Sheriff telling Mr. Hogg that he had all sorts of traps and things in mind for y’all before the due time of the payment,” he began. “I know that today’s the last day for the last payment and I wanted to do what I could to make sure nothing went wrong with that.”

“At six thirty in the morning?” Jesse asked.

“Mr. Hogg told Rosco and me to be out on the road at eight this mornin’ to try and stop y’all. I don’t know why, Uncle Jesse, but he wants to make sure your family gets foreclosed on today, and I didn’t want to see that happen. Y’all are good folks, and, well…it just seemed wrong to me somehow,” Enos said. “It could get me into trouble, but I don’t much care anymore. I just don’t want y’all to get thrown off your land.”

“That’s awful nice of you, Enos,” he said smiling as he took in the earnest face of the younger man. “Yet, somethin’ tells me this ain’t just about the mortgage payment,” he began. “What’s on your mind, Enos?” He asked. “Is it something about Daisy?”

As most of the Dukes, Jesse tended to grace the topic of his niece very delicately. He knew that Enos was in love with Daisy and had proven himself to be someone Jesse could approve of as a suitor. Jesse, of course, never broached the topic with Enos, but he still waited for the younger man to find the nerve to approach the family with his feelings.

“No Sir, I came because it was the right thing to do,” Enos said, thus distracting him from his earlier thoughts. “I spent much of my life not doing what was right because of my duty and not following my heart. I didn’t want to go through that again at your expense. I always wanted to be an honest and hardworking lawman, but that seems contradictory for Hazzard, don’t it?” Without waiting for Jesse to respond, Enos continued. “Uncle Jesse, I want to do what is right, not because of an obligation or duty, but because my conscience was telling me it is the right thing to do.”

Jesse looked at Enos, his blue eyes widening. He had never heard him speak with such conviction, and he started to wonder if what his heart was telling him did not just center itself on the mortgage, but perhaps it had something to do with his feelings for Daisy. Of course, Jesse had also been waiting to hear these words ever since his niece had almost married him.

After several minutes, the older man took a deep breath. “Enos,” he paused, the words he was about to say filled with sincerity. “I’m really proud of you.”

The deputy’s eyes opened at that moment and brightened considerably. “Really?” He eventually asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

Never in his life had Enos been able to share one of his fondest wishes, and that was to gain approval and acceptance by Jesse Duke. Enos knew that this man was one of the most respected and honest people in the county. Yet, he always knew that because of his job, there was always going to be something that stood between him and Jesse’s favor. Eventually, he swallowed. “You don’t know what that means to me, Uncle Jesse.”

“Oh, I think I do,” Jesse mumbled, but no other words emerged. Jesse Duke was generally not a man built on sentimentality. Instead, he took a deep and cleansing breath and stared out across the pasture towards the eastern horizon. “You gonna tell Daisy now how you feel or wait until another bank robbery?” He chuckled under his breath as he turned around and looked meaningfully at Enos.

The deputy nodded as he turned back to behold the sky that was now filled with hues of purples, pinks, blues, and yellows. For whatever reason, these colors reminded him of the overall feeling of gratitude towards God for making such a beautiful day and giving it to them in such an unconditionally loving manner.

Jesse turned and cast a glance towards Enos. The deputy was now sitting with a cockeyed smile plastered across his face. He seems to be lost in his own little world again, he thought as he noticed as tear as it slipped from beneath Enos’ eye and made a steady stream down over his cheek. His attention once more returned to the sunrise.

After awhile, his thoughts were jarred when he heard a sniff from the younger man and almost released a chuckle when he saw Enos wiping his flat palm across his cheek and, thus, smearing the tear away.

Jesse said nothing; instead he turned his head back towards the natural wonder that was playing out before their eyes.

For some time, the two men sat watching in companionable silence until the door abruptly opened and Jesse turned around to see that Daisy had stepped outside, her hair pulled back in a casual ponytail and her sundress wafting in the cool early morning breeze.

“Enos, what are you doing here?” She spoke, her voice soft as she regarded her uncle and the younger man who were both seated on the porch.

“I uh…” he began, his voice trailing off. “…Hi Daisy.”

“Enos and I were just enjoying the sunrise and talking,” Jesse said.

“Uncle Jesse, should I go ahead and get breakfast ready?” She asked. “I scramble up some eggs with bacon and sausage, if you’d like.”

“You can, Daisy, but I got chores to do,” Jesse heaved himself from the chair and started to walk off in the direction of the barn. “I’ll be back in about an hour or so.”

“But Uncle Jesse, you know what Doctor Hayes said about resting and taking it easy,” Daisy objected. “Let Bo or Luke take care of the chores.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, ‘watch out for your heart, Mr. Duke’,” Jesse groused, his voice emerging in a singsong twang and filled with sarcasm. “Daisy, when are you gonna learn that my heart ain’t gonna take me out of this here world until the good Lord is ready for me to come back home to Him?”

“But Uncle Jesse,” she objected.

“No buts, now why don’t you kids skedaddle back inside and get that promised breakfast put on?” He asked as he looked from Daisy to Enos and then started to walk towards the barn. With his back still facing them, neither Daisy nor Enos saw the coy smile that was now plastered across Jesse Duke’s face.

~~~~~

As soon as the older man had disappeared inside the barn, Daisy looked at Enos. “I wish he’d listen to me for once in his life, Enos. I’m worried about him,” she said hotly, her words filled with frustration. She watched as Jesse rounded a corner and entered the barn. As soon as he was out of her sight, she turned to face the deputy. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do about him,” she mumbled more to herself than to him.

As these words emerged, she started to follow her uncle, but Enos reached a hand out and stopped her with a soft touch to her shoulder. Upon feeling this, she stopped and turned around. “His heart won’t give out on him for doing some farming chores, Daisy honey,” he offered kindly as he released his hold on her but reached for her hand.

Once he could feel her fingers curling around his gentle hand, he stroked her own with his free hand as his next words emerged. “You should know by now that your Uncle Jesse is probably the strongest man in all of Hazzard County.”

“The strongest willed, you mean,” Daisy whispered bitterly, her voice etched with worry.

“There is something to be said for strong wills,” Enos said smiling at her. “A strong will is what keeps me in here, even though I could have stayed in Los Angeles.”

Daisy shrugged her shoulders as she felt her heart starting to hammer loudly in her chest. For a moment, she stared down at their joined hands as she remembered the day he had left and how heartbroken she had been. Then her thoughts drifted and she could recall the day he returned to Hazzard and then how they had almost gotten married. So many memories, and yet she knew beyond any doubt that her heart was slowly and surely being held in the loving hands of Enos Strate.

She took a deep breath and looked at him. His hair was wafting gently in the breeze and she reached over with her free hand up and brushed it aside so that it would once more lay flat. Instead of speaking of her feelings, she shook her head. “I don’t know, Enos,” she said softly, her words returning her to the present moment. “Jesse Duke could give stubborn lessons to Maudine the mule.”

“Don’t be so hard on him, Daisy,” Enos said. “Uncle Jesse is only doing what he has been doing all his life. You can’t very well take that away from him. If you did, it would be to deny him of his reason for living. My daddy once said that one might be able to take the farm from the man, but they will never take the farmer out of the man.”

Daisy smiled at him, the gesture weak and filled with uncertainty. She shrugged her shoulders as she looked into the kind eyes of the man she loved.

At this moment, she was simply uncertain as to whether or not she could even touch on certain topics while still in his company. She wanted to and yet, she was completely aware of the fact that the only response he would accept would be a completely honest one.

She took a deep breath and raised her head as the heartfelt truth emerged with her words. “You’re probably right, Enos, but it scares me so much to even think about it. You know, the way I figure, Uncle Jesse’s probably not gonna retire or take it easy until I’m married off and he knows I’d be well provided for.” She turned and looked at him, her expression filled with meaning, and her gaze encompassed in her own brand of hope.

At the same instant the words had emerged from her, she managed to look him directly in the eyes as a tinge of redness suddenly colored his cheeks.

She would never have admitted this to anyone, but the day that she and Enos come close to getting married, her heart nearly shattered from disappointment. She knew that she didn’t love him in that way, at that time, but now she did. Of course, she had always had a soft spot in her heart for him. Of course no one knew that she was just as afraid to tell him, as he was to tell her. In the recesses of her heart, she figured that Jesse would disapprove of him as a potential suitor and this left her literally standing between two chairs.

Deep down inside, he was the man she had waited all her life to find, yet, at the same instant, she wondered what the rest of them would say if she had confessed her feelings about a man who had loved her since grade-school.

After several minutes of awkward silence passed between them, she turned and faced him. “Enos, what are you doing here so early in the morning?” She did not ask as a way to demand something from him, but instead she was curious as to why he was there in the first place. Of course, she would not freely admit it, but she was happy to have woken up to see that he was paying her family a visit.

The deputy’s cheeks flushed an even brighter shade of red. “Nothin’ much really, I just wanted to come by and help make sure Uncle Jesse got the mortgage payment to Mr. Hogg in time since today’s the last day, and I didn’t want y’all to lose your farm because of some dirty trick.” He lowered his head as he stared down at the boots that covered his feet.

“That’s really sweet of you, Enos,” she said with a slow nod. Seconds later, she inched her way over to him and weaved her arm through his and took his hand. “Would you help me fix breakfast, Sugar?” She asked, her eyes meeting his.

He immediately nodded and allowed her to help lead him into the house. “Then that means you can stay and help us eat it. We even have a jar of buttermilk in the fridge just for you,” she offered with a smile as they came into the bright and cheerful kitchen.

Enos nodded as the door swung closed. Daisy slowly lowered her arm and the two of them separated. She approached the refrigerator and pulled out the bowl with the fresh eggs inside while he seated himself at the familiar kitchen table.

Once she had carried the eggs over to the sink, she took six of them out and returned the small bucket to the refrigerator. Returning to the sink, she watched as Enos stared down at the tabletop. They remained in this stance for several minutes before he raised his head and looked at her. “It really is not necessary for you to do all this work on my account, Daisy,” he said politely, but his voice seemed more like he was talking to himself and less like he was addressing her.

“But, you’re helping us by telling Uncle Jesse Boss and Rosco’s plans,” she said smiling at him. “You could get into trouble, you know. Not to mention the fact that if they found out that you told us, then the breakfast I’m cooking will give you the energy to get past all that.”

“I know, but Daisy, I’d do anything I could for you or your family. You know that,” he said. “And I wouldn’t be asking for a reward for it, neither.”

“I know that too, Sugar,” she said as she walked over to where he was sitting at the table. She rested her hands on his shoulders and stared down at him, her eyes filled with love. Seconds later, she found herself allowing her weight to fall against the back of the chair and she managed to wind her arms around him, chair and all. As she felt her weight falling against his strong back, she buried her face against his left shoulder.

Inhaling, she could detect the scent of Ivory soap as well as the fragrance of his aftershave. She figured that he used something that was for sensitive skin, but it smelled so good, and she remained in this uncomfortable stance for several minutes just allowing his presence to entice her senses. After several minutes had passed, she raised her head, her gaze now shifting to the room where they were.

It was no secret; both Daisy and Enos both loved the kitchen of the Duke farm. The bright and cheerful essence seemed to welcome anyone who came calling whether it was kin, their friends, or a stranger. Sometimes there were things that happened that were not so grand, but yet there was always something that would make her smile when she thought about all the good and bad times that had happened over the years.

Enos raised his head and when he felt her hold on him tightening. He tipped his chin as high as he could so that he would be able to see her from this position. When he saw a frown shadowed across her face, he swallowed. “You’re worried, aren’t you?” he whispered.

She nodded sadly as she tried to stand up, but when she felt his hands covering hers; she remained in this awkward half-seated position. “How strong is his heart?” She spoke in response to Enos’ question. “How much can a man go through before the good Lord calls him home?”

“You’re frightened about something that you cannot control?” Enos asked.

“Yes,” she nodded. “I’m more afraid than I have ever been in my life, Enos. Bo and Luke don’t seem to be worried about any of this. It’s probably because they are strong young men with girls flocking in to date them, but me…” she shook her head. Before Enos could object and remind her of all the times she had caught the fancy of some fellow, she continued to speak. “…I can’t imagine my life without Uncle Jesse anymore than I can imagine myself being a barmaid for the rest of my life.”

“Then don’t try to imagine your life that way right now. Just try to enjoy and live as you have done all these years,” he said smiling. “A job can always be changed, it is not what truly lies in the heart of a person. This was something that I learned when I was working out in LA. It was also something that made me decide to come back. It was also something that Uncle Jesse always tried to remind me of. Just this morning, he reminded me of what was important.”

“What do you mean?” She asked softly.

“Well, I learned that no matter how far away I am from this place, that it will still be home to me. I also discovered that how great or small my dreams may be, my heart will lead me back to where it is I belong. The same will hold true for you, Daisy. The measure of one’s heart is only as great as the person who dreams or carries the hope inside.”

“That doesn’t help,” Daisy said sadly. “This farm, this family; that was Uncle Jesse’s dream. Once he gives the payment to Boss Hogg, then he will have accomplished everything he set out to do.”

“Yes, and perhaps that is the weight that weighs the most heavily on you. Since he will now accomplish having the farm paid off, he will have accomplished what he needs to. This will insure that you, Bo, and Luke will always have a home and a roof above your heads,” Enos said.

“How did you get to be so smart, Enos?” She whispered as he stood up from the table, turned around, and looked deeply into her eyes. “I always thought you…”

“…Were a dipstick?” He asked with his light-hearted laugh.

“No, I don’t mean that,” she objected.

“Perhaps not, but maybe the words Uncle Jesse has been telling me all these years are finally starting to sink in.” He took both of her hands in his and smiled down at her. “I’m not as naïve as I may seem, Daisy. I learned a great deal over the years, not just about being an honest lawman, but about what lies in my heart. I know y’all have become a family to me, and I can recall how you’ve helped me out of a jam or two. I also realized what a blessing your friendship means to me that time you were willin’ to marry me to save me from living out my days behind bars. I truly found someone of worth that I knew I loved. The truth is, my pride would not let me reach out and embrace you although I really wanted to.”

Daisy looked down at where his fingers were laced with her own. “You mean; you knew that I didn’t…”

“…Love me in that way?” He asked, but affirmed this with a nod of his head. “Yeah, I knew. Daisy, the hives were just a good enough reason to allow us both the time we needed to determine if that was what we really wanted.”

“But, you knew, it was me who didn’t know. I knew all along that you loved me, Enos,” she whispered.

“Well, I said so on the canoe when we were together on the lake,” he said smiling at her. “I said it then, but you didn’t. That was when I knew that you weren’t ready.”

“I wasn’t ready, Enos, but how does one know if they are ready?” she offered softly. “I have always thought that you knew, deep in your heart, I deeply cared for you.”

“I knew that, but Daisy, carin’ for and lovin’ someone are two different things,” he said as he stared down at where their hands were joined. He rubbed his hand along the softness of her skin, but eventually raised his head. “There’s something I have wanted to tell you for a long time now, Daisy. I realized Just now, when Uncle Jesse told me that he was proud of me that I could. The truth is, I think I was happier hearin’ those words than I have ever been in my life. You know, I have always sought his approval in the past for things or decisions. I wanted him to see me as a man who could make the right decision and not just be considered someone who was ripe to be snookered.” He shook his head as a nervous laugh emerged. “I guess I always knew that if I played the part of the dipstick that I would never be able to show you what I could do or be the kind of man you deserve. That is I…” His voice trailed off and he lowered his head.

“I think I know what you’re trying to say, Enos,” she whispered. She released his hands so that she could wind her arms around him and allow her head to come and rest against his shoulder. “These are the words I was waiting to hear since the day we almost got married.”

“They were?” He asked.

“Yes, and now I know that the feelings you hold for me can be returned,” she said as she felt her fingers caressing the side of his face. “Enos, I…” her voice trailed off as she felt his soft lips touching her own.

Seconds later, the door opened and closed and Jesse came into the kitchen.

Enos slowly backed away from Daisy and regarded him with a happy, and this time, a not so nervous, smile.

“I thought you young-uns were getting breakfast ready,” he said with a low chuckle. He could tell that by Enos’ expression, that the young man had spoken to Daisy and her response had been an affirmative one.

He also knew that the two of them had spoken about what truly existed in Enos’ heart, and that was the reason he had left them alone in the first place. “So what did I miss while I was serving Maudine her breakfast?”

Enos exchanged glances with Daisy, but offered Jesse a lopsided smile. No words emerged from him, but his niece looked at him. “We were just talking about stuff, Uncle Jesse. You know how it is.” she said hurriedly.

She cast a shy glance across the table and when her eyes met Enos’, she could see that he was smiling as though he had won the lottery.

“Just stuff, huh?” Jesse asked, his eyes sparkling merrily.

“Well, no Sir,” Enos said, his voice filled with confidence, something that Jesse had rarely seen in the younger man, but also something that the Duke patriarch liked. “We were talking about what it is that makes a person find the courage to follow their heart.”

Jesse nodded approvingly as Daisy got up and set about to finishing her task of making breakfast.

In the other room the three of them could hear the sounds of Bo and Luke waking up.

“Oh boys?” Jesse called out over the sounds of coffee being poured and Daisy’s scraping the last of the eggs from the frying pan. “I’m going to be leaving here before eight to take care of the mortgage business, so you’re going to have to take care of tidying up the hen-house for me.”

As soon as the words ‘yes Sir’, filtered back into the kitchen from the other room, Jesse nodded as he patted the envelope in the breast pocket of his overalls.

The End…

by: Sarah Stodola

“Daisy! C’mere!” Uncle Jesse’s voice came. Daisy skidded to a halt from chasing a goat and took off in the other direction, hair flying freely behind her. She ran at full speed across the spring field and leaped up the porch stairs to launch herself into her uncle’s arms. He laughed and hugged her, then set her down and gestured to the house. “Why don’t you go in? Luke! Bo!” he yelled for his other two kids.

The boys came bounding onto the porch, and Bo asked excitedly, “Is it time?”

“Time for what?” Daisy spun to face him. “What’s goin’ on?”

“You’ll see,” her uncle smiled, and ushered her in after the boys.

Daisy went through the living room, not hearing a sound, and was pushed gently into the kitchen. She froze when she saw the table.

“Surprise!” everyone yelled, laughing and grinning. Besides her cousins, Enos and his mother were there, plus Rosco, Hogg, Cooter, the telephone operator Trudy, and… Aunt Roseanne?!

Daisy leaped into her aunt’s arms with a squeal of joy. “Aunt Roseanne, what are you doing here?!”

“Daisy,” the adult admonished gently, “how could I ever not come on a day this important?”

She grinned up at her aunt. Roseanne had changed, slightly, from the last time she’d been to Hazzard. The elegant dress was not gone, and never would be, but her spine was not quite as stiff; she was not quite as uncomfortable in this simple country setting.

Daisy finally spun around to look at everyone else there. “Wow! What’s this all about?”

“Aw, don’t tell me you forgot!” Bo grinned, pulling his now-shorter cousin into a rough sideways hug. A growth spurt that winter had put him at three inches taller than Daisy, now pushing on Luke. Though the older boy was growing enough, too, that Bo probably wouldn’t pass him, at least not any time soon. “It’s your birthday!”

Her mouth dropped open, and she looked at everything again. “Whoa… gosh yeah, I forgot! How could I?!” She was nine years old today.

“Maybe ’cause you never had a real party before,” Luke shrugged. “Well, c’mon! Make a wish and blow out the candles!”

Daisy turned to look at the gaily decorated cake on the table. “I… I don’t know what to wish for. I’ve got everything!”

“Well, just blow ’em out then,” Enos urged her. “So’s we can eat!”

She laughed and leaned her hands on the table while everyone else sang “Happy Birthday”, then blew the candles out.

While Jesse was serving everyone lemon cake, Aunt Roseanne came up to Daisy, and, smiling, pressed a small box into her hand. “Happy birthday, Daisy Duke,” she whispered. “We all love you.”

Daisy looked up at her aunt with surprise, then slowly unwrapped the tiny present. She opened the velvet-covered box inside and gasped. “Aunt Roseanne..!”

“Me and the boys chose it, and she bought it,” Jesse’s voice came from over her shoulder. He was smiling proudly, and he gestured to the box. “Go ahead.”

Daisy put the box down on the counter, then lifted the small gold locket off its bed and held it up, spinning it with one finger in the shaft of sunlight coming through the kitchen window. She looked up at her aunt and uncle both. “Thank you!”

“Anything I can do…” Roseanne started, then broke off, smiling and shaking her head slightly at herself. “I know, money’s not important. But I was glad to help Jesse and the boys in this. Why don’t you read the inscription?”

Daisy looked down at the locket in her hand, then carefully turned it over and held it in the light. Slowly, she read out loud, “The brightest gold cannot compare to the light of a true family’s love. Love, Jesse and Roseanne.”

Slowly, she looked back up at her aunt, and reached to put her arms around the proper lady’s waist in a hug. “I love you, Aunt Roseanne,” she whispered, then stepped back, undoing the clasp of the necklace. Jesse took it and gently put it on for her, and she looked down at it, touching the shiny gold with a finger. “I’ll wear it always!” she swore.

“Okay, then let’s eat!” Bo laughed from beside her, diving for the plates of cake on the table. Daisy and Luke were right behind him.

<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>

“Oh, yes, weren’t you a bunch!” Jesse laughed, coming out of his reminiscing. The three kids had joined him around the table with the photo album for a session of story-telling. “An’ you ain’t changed much, neither,” he mused half to himself.

Then he glanced down at the hand sneaking its way into the bowl of pea pods. “Hey!” he slapped it away, then took a second look at the bowl, to see it almost empty.

Daisy, the culprit, giggled and shrugged. She noticed that the boys were wearing guilty grins too.

“Oh!” Jesse threw his hands into the air. “Well, that’s one batch of peas that we ain’t gonna have for dinner!”

Luke started to reply, but suddenly the whoop of sirens split the air. All four Dukes froze in mid-motion, listening.

“Oh no, him again,” Bo groaned, pushing away from the table and standing. “I think we’d better make tracks, Luke.”

“Good idea.” The older boy was already halfway to the door.

Jesse and Daisy walked out to the porch just in time to see two police cars howling their way into the farmyard. The boys were already sliding through the windows of their car, the General Lee. Bo gunned the engine and it came to life with a powerful roar-growl. The orange car shot forward, then went into a sliding one-eighty to face the direction the police cruisers were coming from. Just as the white cars skidded to a halt, the General roared past them, down toward the road.

“After ’em, after ’em!” Hogg shouted from one car, and the other spun the follow the Duke boys.

“Sorry ’bout all this!” Enos called to his two friends before going off to chase his other two friends. Daisy smiled, knowing he wouldn’t catch them even if he tried, which he probably wouldn’t, at least not very hard.

But that was not true for Hogg and Rosco, who were climbing out of the other police car. “You’re aidin’ and abettin’ criminals!” Hogg yelled, stomping his way up to the porch. “An’ we’re gonna catch ’em this time! We got proof!”

“Proof?” Daisy grinned. “You can’t have proof for something that we didn’t do, Boss.”

“Oh yeah?” Rosco pointed his finger at her. “Well, let me tell ya…”

“Oh forget it,” Hogg groused, pulling on his sheriff’s arm. “Let’s go get those boys!”

“Oh, no you don’t!” Daisy shouted, and was halfway across the farmyard even before the two men, who were closer, were. She stood between them and their car, hair tossed back and hands on her hips, glaring at them defiantly. “You ain’t throwing my cousins in jail for something they didn’t even do.”

“Oh yeah?” Rosco repeated, shoving past her. “I’d like to see you try to stop us!”

“Yeah, try and stop us!” Hogg repeated, glaring at her and starting to follow the sheriff.

Daisy spun and grabbed Rosco by the arm, swinging him around to knock into Hogg and send the heavyset man sprawling to the ground, then flipping a shouting Rosco over in a quick judo throw to land beside his boss. “I just did,” she smiled mock-sweetly.

Coughing and sputtering, the two picked themselves up and stumbled for the police cruiser. Daisy didn’t move to stop them this time, figuring that Luke and Bo had had enough time to get away by now.

Rosco stood outside his door for a second, stuttering in his fury. “Sometimes I… I wish I’d never helped you stay here in Hazzard, Daisy Duke!” he finally managed.

“Me too! Now let’s go!” Boss Hogg hauled him into the car. Sirens going, the sheriff’s car sped off down the drive.

Laughing, Daisy turned to see her uncle coming up behind her. He was smiling and shaking his head.

“The three of you sure *ain’t* changed!” he said again.

Daisy put an arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling happily. “Nope, we haven’t, Uncle Jesse. And we never will. C’mon, let’s go get dinner ready. The boys will be back in half an hour.”

The two Dukes turned and went back into the house, glad just to have their whole family together. Life went on, everything perfectly normal. Well, normal for Hazzard County, at least!

END

by: Sarah Stodola

The three cousins and Enos, who was still feeling bad for giving them away and still trying to make up for it, sat on the floor of the church’s Sunday School room, playing marbles. Enos had just knocked two of Luke’s marbles out of the circle they’d created with bits of string, and scrambled to get them, grinning happily, when the door opened.

All four kids looked up as one as Jesse came into the room. Daisy launched herself into his arms, hope filling her. “Uncle Jesse, can I stay with you now? Is Aunt Roseanne gone?”

He knelt down to look all of them in the eye, seriously. “No, she ain’t gone yet. We’ve got an appointment tomorrow morning to talk to the circuit judge.”

“It’s come down to the judge?” Luke asked, eyes widening.

Jesse nodded. “I’m afraid so. Kids, we’ll all need each other to make it out of this one. Daisy, you’ll have to tell the judge exactly how you feel about all this, the exact truth. He’ll be able to tell if you mean it. And Luke, Bo,” he caught each of their gazes, “you’ll have to stay out of trouble. No yelling at Daisy’s aunt, got that?”

“Yessir,” the two boys replied together. Enos just looked anxious.

“Well then,” Jesse sighed, and met Daisy’s eyes again. His were worried, and she bit her lip, afraid.

“Uncle Jesse, can Aunt Roseanne make me go back to Atlanta, forever?”

“If we don’t win this,” he told her and the others, very seriously. “I’m counting on you kids to make the difference. She does have more money, but I’m counting on you to prove that we have more love.”

“That’s not hard.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Cause it’s the truth.”

He hugged her back, gently. “We just have to make the judge see that.” He was shaking slightly, and Daisy hugged him tighter. He was just as afraid about her going away as she was, she realized with some surprise.

“We will. I love you, Uncle Jesse,” she whispered. “And I don’t want to leave Hazzard.”

From behind her, she felt Luke and Bo put their arms around her too, and Jesse spread out his arms to include them all in the family circle, even Enos. He smiled, gently. “And I love all of you kids. We Dukes are famous for stickin’ together, we’ll really need that now.” Then he released them all, taking one of Daisy’s hands in one of his, and Luke’s in his other. “But I think we’re gonna need the Lord’s help with this one too.”

They all understood. Bo linked up between Daisy and Luke, and Enos squeezed his way in between Luke and Jesse, looking up at the only adult with wide, determined eyes. He wanted to be part of all this too.

Jesse bowed his head, and Daisy quickly closed her eyes, following his example, as her uncle spoke quietly. “Lord, we’re facin’ some real trouble here. You know that Daisy wants to stay with us, but the judge out there don’t know that. Help us to say and do what we need to to show him the truth, behind our hearts and Miss Douglas’. Make the judge see the truth about all of this. I’m sure you want kids to have joy and love more than money, because you made us all that way. So, help us prove that.”

“And make it so’s Daisy can stay with us, ’cause we love her,” Bo interrupted. “Please!”

Then he paused, as if embarrassed, and Daisy squinted her eyes open to see her uncle squeeze Bo’s hand, smiling. “Amen,” Jesse finished.

“Amen,” the four kids answered quietly.

The circle broke apart, and Bo put an arm around his younger cousin protectively. “We’ll make sure you stay in Hazzard.”

“Thanks,” she smiled back at him, then accepted and returned Luke’s hug too. “Thanks.”

“Enos, maybe you’d better go let your mama know where you are,” Jesse said. “She’s probably looking for you now, it’s almost dinnertime.”

The dark-haired boy’s eyes widened. “Oh, gosh! Okay!” He scrambled to his feet. “I hope she’ll let me come to the meetin’ in the morning. I’m gonna try to come.” His earnest gaze met Daisy’s, then he was gone like a small whirlwind.

Jesse stood and looked at the door, sighing. “Well,” he said finally, “we’ll need some rest before tomorrow. Let’s go home.”

The four Dukes left together for the pickup, Bo and Luke walking protectively on either side of their cousin.

###

“Shouldn’t you be nervous?”

“Why?” Roseanne looked at her lawyer, smiling. “We hold all the cards, Mr. Sanchez.”

“But we are in *their* territory now,” the man said worriedly. “How do you know that this circuit judge will give the same ruling as one from Atlanta? It might have been wiser to insist upon going back to the city. This man is from this area; he might think the way they do.”

“You are too nervous for your own good,” she said airily, trying to hide the sudden prick of fear. “It almost seems as if you *expect* those farmers to win. Do you doubt your own abilities, Mr. Sanchez?”

He shook his head. “No, not under normal circumstances. But this place is hardly normal. These people are hardly normal. I don’t have a clue what they might do next!”

Roseanne gave him a frosty look. “Just remember this then, when you are in front of that judge tomorrow morning. If we lose,” she pointed at his chest, “*you* can find a new client.”

He gulped. “Miss Douglas…”

“Good night,” she cut him off, waving at the hotel room door. Her tone brooked no further conversation.

Sanchez nodded, slightly, and dipped his head. “Very well, Miss Douglas. I understand. I will do my best.”

“You had better,” she said softly, threateningly. “I have no intention of losing anything, much less my young niece, to a pack of country troublemakers. Understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He backed toward the door, briefcase in hand, and was gone.

Roseanne stood for a few more seconds, then slowly sat down on the bed, staring at the opposite wall. She couldn’t lose Daisy. She couldn’t! What… what would she do without her? The proud head lowered as she looked at her hands. She had to win this case.

###

“Psst! Daisy!”

The whisper caught her attention, and she looked up from the small framed photograph she was holding. “Hi, Bo.”

“Whatcha doin’?” The boy shoved his blond hair out of his eyes and padded barefoot into her room, sitting down on the bed beside her.

Daisy shrugged a little. “Just… just hoping I don’t have to go back to Atlanta tomorrow.”

“Hey, we’re all hopin’ that.” He leaned over to see what she was looking at. She held the photo out to him, and he took it. “Huh. When was this taken? I don’t remember.”

“Just before we started school.”

“Oh.” He laughed a little. “It kinda really shows what we’re like, huh?”

She smiled slightly. “Yeah.”

The picture was of the three kids, the boys clad only in jean cut-offs, Daisy wearing a sleeveless shirt too. They were wading in the creek in the picture, but all looked wet, as if they’d already been deeper. None of the kids had noticed Jesse’s camera at the time. Luke was yelling, grabbing at the air as a good-sized fish was leaping high, out of his hands. Daisy was jumping up from the other direction, trying to recapture the fish as well, and Bo had a startled look on his face as he wavered off-balance on one foot, arms out, caught in the act of falling backwards into the water after being accidentally shoved by Luke as the older boy tried to grab the fish. The scene was one of action caught in one frame, frozen in midair. Moments later, all three kids had landed in the creek with one giant splash. The fish had gotten away.

Bo wrinkled his freckled nose a little, thinking. “Hey, Uncle Jesse has another one of these downstairs, don’t he? In the living room.”

“Yeah. Shows how much you pay attention to your surroundings,” Daisy teased, poking her cousin lightly in the ribs. He made a face and squirmed away, still looking at the photo.

“It’s kinda funny, ain’t it?” he grinned. “I mean, look at all of us!”

She giggled, then clapped both hands over her mouth, glancing guiltily at the open door. They were supposed to be asleep right now, not up talking.

“Yeah,” Bo nodded agreement. “I probably better get back to bed. You sure you’re gonna be okay, though?”

“I think so.” Daisy smiled at him. “But do you think I could maybe spend the night on the floor in you guys’ room? I don’t want to be alone.”

“You’re never alone here,” her cousin told her firmly. “Yeah, c’mon, I don’t mind.”

She gathered the quilt off her bed and followed him into the hall and around the corner. The two cousins cleared a place between the boys’ beds, being careful not to wake Luke, and she wrapped herself in the quilt and smiled at Bo. He grinned back and reached to turn out the light.

“Good night,” they whispered as one. Daisy hoped it wasn’t the last time they’d be saying that to each other.

###

The next morning, at almost seven, the Dukes were not the only ones up. Honorable Judge Sean Carter strode down the narrow church aisle with a cup of coffee in one hand. His path was an unerring one, straight through the door of the pastor’s office. He and his secretary had been graciously allowed to use it during the circuit court.

“Good morning, Sandy,” he greeted the middle-aged blonde woman sitting at the desk. She was staring at a sheet of paper, frowning, and jumped when he spoke. “Oh. Good morning, sir.”

“What’s that?” He ran a hand over his straight gray hair, making sure it was tidy, then pointed to the papers she was holding.

“Some notes I’ve compiled for the first, and only, case this morning.”

“Oh?” Carter smiled, pulling up a chair on the other side of the desk and sitting. “Only one case this morning?”

“Yes, in less than an hour.”

“Well, they certainly get their day started early, don’t they?” He sipped his coffee.

“Well, they are farm folk. At least, one side is.” Sandy tapped the papers lying on the desk. “A custody case. Douglas vs. Duke.”

“Oh?” He set down the coffee and raised his eyebrows, taking the notes handed to him. “From these, I assume you’ve been busy,” he smiled.

“Of course. All yesterday evening. I couldn’t find out much about Miss Douglas, but on Mr. Duke, I got quite an earful. People around here are certainly very talkative.” Sandy looked at the ceiling, and Carter hid another smile. She was from New York originally, and never would, he suspected, quite understand country folk.

“At least you got some information.” He ran his eyes over the papers, then put them down, leaning forward with his elbows on the desk and fingers steepled. “What have you found out?”

She sat back and raised both eyebrows high. “This seems to be the climax, so to speak, of a family feud that’s gone on for some time. The child now being fought over is eight-year-old Daisy Mae Duke. Miss Douglas, from Atlanta, is her mother’s sister, and apparently raised the girl for some years. Quite well, I might add, sparing little expense, even to the point of hiring a private tutor. This Jesse Duke is the child’s father’s brother, and was given custody in his brother’s will. But Miss Douglas is contesting, and neither side is backing down.”

“Hmm.” Carter took a deep breath. “You said people around here are talkative. What have you found out about this Jesse Duke?”

Sandy shrugged a little, tilting her head slightly to one side. “He seems to be the average farmer, somewhat poor but not really in trouble financially, at least at the moment. He has quite a reputation as being unusually honest, though, and has raised two boys, nephews, since they were four and two.”

That got his attention. “Does Miss Douglas have any children of her own?”

“No, sir, she doesn’t. This Daisy Mae is the only child she has ever raised. And she seems to have done well,” the secretary shrugged. “But, as I said, I couldn’t find out much about her.”

Carter sat back in his chair again. “Tell me more about this Jesse Duke, then.”

“Sure. I’ve got more on him than I could ever need, everything from his financial status to his favorite fishing hole.” She rolled her eyes. “Mr. Duke is not a young man, though by no means really old, either. He’s involved in almost every charity and church event in the county, and every single person I’ve talked to seems to respect and like him. And trust him.”

Carter couldn’t help but smile. “He seems like a likable man.”

“I suppose.” Sandy flipped through her papers again. “Now, about those boys of his… I’ve heard a lot.”

“Tell me,” the judge requested, reaching for his coffee cup again. Perhaps he could find out something more about Mr. Duke’s worth as a guardian if he found out about the children he already had.

“Their names are Lukas K and Beauregard, better known as simply Luke and Bo. The two are ten and eight now, and known around the area for being able to get into anything and everything. Whether it’s the honor roll at school or more trouble than you’ve seen outside of juvenile hall.” Her eyebrows raised expressively. “Everyone seems to like them, though. Locals speak of the boys’ pranks almost fondly, and apparently they’ve never hurt anyone or really broken the law. Though in somewhere like Atlanta, some of their activities would be illegal.”

“This isn’t Atlanta,” Carter waved the comment off. “Law is different in an area this rural. So they are good kids, mainly?”

Sandy shrugged helplessly, tossing her notes down on the desk. “That depends on who you speak to and whether or not they’ve gotten into trouble lately. For the most part, though, they seem to be. From what I hear, Mr. Duke is somewhat lenient as to what he allows, but when his nephews cross the line, he can be quite strict too. He’s known for living and raising his kids by,” she made quote marks in the air with her fingers, “a healthy dose of common sense.”

Carter raised one eyebrow and sighed. “Hmm. Well, I’m not quite sure which side to take. A wealthy woman from Atlanta who had raised the child for years and very likely loves her, or a farmer from this county who has legal custody, and who seems to do well by the children under his care.”

“Neither am I,” Sandy sighed. “I’ve heard a lot of good about this Jesse Duke, though, if one can see past his nephews’ reputation for trouble. Not so much for causing trouble, I guess, though, as finding it.”

The judge chuckled. “Sounds somewhat like me when I was a boy.” At her surprised expression, he nodded. “Oh, yes, I was a country kid too. Well, what else of interest have you discovered?”

She consulted her notes again. “Well, there’s one thing here that wasn’t mentioned outright. Mr. Duke has apparently had the care of his young niece for a couple of months now. It’s only recently that Miss Douglas has insisted upon getting the child back.”

“Oh?” Now this was getting interesting. “What do folks have to say about this…”

“Daisy Mae. Or just Daisy, as she’s known locally. Everyone likes her; she sounds like an energetic but friendly girl. Somewhat of a tomboy, but that’s to be expected, living with two boys her age in the same house. Always polite and helpful, though.” Sandy looked back up at him. “You might find this interesting too, sir.” She pointed a finger at him for emphasis. “When the child first came here from Atlanta, she was small, quiet, almost frail. Since she’s been here, she has grown and strengthened, and is not known for keeping to herself very much either. In short, she seems a completely different girl.”

“A change for the better?”

“It certainly seems like it.”

“Hmm.” Carter stood and stretched, looking at the clock on the wall. “When was their appointment?”

“About twenty minutes from now.”

“Okay then. Maybe I can fit in a fishing trip later this morning.” He smiled at the secretary and picked up the notes. “Mind if I take these to study?”

“Help yourself.”

Coffee in one hand and papers in the other, Carter walked back out into the main room of the little church where he would hold court. Apparently the town hadn’t gotten around to building a courthouse, or just hadn’t thought it necessary.

He alternated reading and sipping coffee at his desk in the front of the room. Everything was so quiet and peaceful that he heard the car pull up outside.

Apparently one of the sides had shown up early. He watched a tall, elegantly dressed woman stalk in and straight to the front, a thin man who looked like a lawyer right behind her. Aha. Miss Douglas. He watched surreptitiously as the two put their heads together and started discussing something.

He heard the second car less than five minutes later.

Four Dukes and one Strate trooped into the church, the three boys forming a triangle around Daisy. Roseanne was already there, and as she turned to glare at the family, Bo glared back at her. Her eyes narrowed calculatingly, and he repressed a shiver. The lady unnerved him.

“I think she’s mad today,” Luke whispered.

“Yeah. Course, ain’t she always?” the blond boy grinned. His older cousin kept a straight face for all of two seconds, then grinned back. Enos and Daisy just looked at them, both looking a little scared.

Daisy slipped her hand into her oldest cousin’s, looking up at him. “I don’t want to leave,” she whispered, blinking back what were probably tears.

Bo clenched his jaw in youthful determination and took her other hand, forming a chain between the three Duke kids. “Don’t worry, you ain’t gonna.”

“We’ll make sure of that,” Jesse put in, smiling down at his charges before putting a hand briefly on each’s shoulder and walking up to the front of the makeshift courtroom where the circuit judge sat behind a desk brought in where the pulpit usually was.

Roseanne’s gaze swept over the kids again, and Enos shuddered dramatically. “Gosh, she kinda scares me!”

“Yeah, me too, but we can’t let her know that,” Bo told him.

“C’mon.” Luke led the others over to a back corner. He and Daisy sat in the corner of the rearmost pew, and Enos and Bo leaned over the back of the one in front, the four all leaning close together. “We gotta have a plan,” the oldest said seriously, his eyes meeting each of the others’. “If we don’t, that city lady and her hired fast-talker are gonna win this.”

“And they *can’t* win this,” Bo interrupted.

Luke didn’t complain, only nodded. “Yeah. So what’re we gonna do? We’ve got to get it worked out before showtime.”

Bo bit his lower lip, thinking hard. But Daisy was the first to speak up.

“Well, I’ve listened to Aunt Roseanne and her lawyer talk about courts and stuff before, and I think we have to find out where the judge’s sympathies lie.” Then, as if suddenly realizing that Bo at least wasn’t sure what she was talking about, she said, “I mean, if he’s from the city, we’re in trouble, but if he’s from an area like ours, he’ll probably understand our side of it better.”

“Oh…” Bo nodded. “Okay. So, how do we do that?”

“Well,” she said seriously, meeting his eyes, “somebody has to talk to him, without actually mentioning the case.”

“I get it.” Luke sat back. “Okay, so who goes up?”

“Not me,” Enos insisted, sliding down in the pew and looking a bit embarrassed. “I’m no good at talkin’ to grown-ups.”

“I’ll go,” Bo finally volunteered after a session of hoping someone else would but hearing nothing. He stood up and tried to straighten his shirt as best he could. He crossed his fingers and held them up.

“Good luck,” Luke agreed, and Enos nodded agreement. Daisy just smiled a little.

Bo started up the center aisle, hurriedly brushing his blond hair into some semblance of order with his fingers. He paused in front of the judge’s desk and furtively glanced in Roseanne and Jesse’s direction. They were arguing, not paying any attention to what the kids were doing, and he took a deep breath, feeling suddenly unsure. But he had to go through with this! They had to find a way to let Daisy stay with them, legally, without running away again.

“Uh, uh, sir?” he tried nervously, licking dry lips. “Sir?”

The judge finally looked up from his reports, and smiled. He was a grandfatherly man who looked like he would probably be retiring soon. “Well, hello. And just who might you be, my young gentleman?”

Bo blushed a little, running a self-conscious hand over his shirt and jeans. They were clean, but still no fancy suit. “I… I guess I’m not that much of a gentleman,” he admitted.

The man smiled. “I can see that, but you’re polite. What’s your name, and what’s your problem?”

“I… I’m Bo Duke. And, well…” Bo had trouble looking the adult in the eye, but finally managed. He knew he was supposed to be indirect about this, but he couldn’t think of a way to word his questions without being straightforward.

“Come now, Bo, you obviously have something on your mind. Perhaps I can help?”

The boy looked up, biting his lip, and suddenly he just had to be honest. He hoped it wouldn’t get them into trouble. “Well, ya… you see,” he amended his grammar, “we’ve got a hearing this morning, and…”

“Oh yes, a custody case. Are you on one side or the other?”

“Would it matter?” Bo asked.

“Maybe.” The judge sat back in his chair and motioned to a chair near him, behind the desk. The boy gingerly moved to sit down, feeling self-conscious. He didn’t look back to see what the other kids were doing. “I try to see to the best interests of the children in all these cases,” the man went on.

Bo felt relief rush through him like the water over Hazzard Dam. He let out a held breath. “Yeah, I’m involved,” he told the adult seriously.

“Is it you being fought over?”

“No! No,” the blond boy said. “It’s my cousin Daisy.”

“Oh?” The judge raised slightly bushy gray eyebrows and smiled slightly.

“Yeah! Her aunt wants her to go live with her in Atlanta, and we want her to stay here with us!”

The judge leaned forward slightly. “Do you know what your cousin wants?”

“Yeah! She wants to stay here!”

The man sat back again and put a finger to his lips. “Hmm.” Bo hoped that he was really listening. “But then why would her aunt want her to go live with her?”

The boy squirmed a little under the eagle-like gaze. “I’m not sure. She didn’t like it when Daisy came to live with us, though.”

“How long has your cousin lived with you?”

“About two months. A bit more, I think.”

“Hmm,” the judge repeated. “Who did she live with before she came here?”

“Her aunt,” Bo admitted reluctantly, looking down at his hands in his lap.

“Then how do you know her aunt does not wish her to come back out of love, Bo?”

“But Roseanne don’t love her!” the eight-year-old protested, meeting the man’s eyes earnestly. “She’s mean to her! I don’t know why she wants Daisy, but Daisy don’t wanna go!” He realized afterward that in his desperation he’d reverted to the country slang he was trying so hard not to use, but the judge didn’t seem to mind.

The man looked over at Roseanne and Jesse. “Is that her aunt?”

“Yeah.”

“She seems to be quite well-off.”

“She’s rich,” Bo rolled his eyes at the ceiling.

“And who is the other?”

“That’s our Uncle Jesse. He takes care of me and Luke and Daisy.”

“Who’s Luke?”

Bo glanced back toward the other kids. Their heads were close together, and they weren’t paying attention. “The oldest over there,” he said, pointing. “He’s our other cousin. But he’s kinda like a big brother.”

“Your uncle took all of you in?” the judge asked with what sounded like amazement.

“Sure. We have a farm a ways out of town.”

“Are you happy there?”

Bo wondered why the man was asking about *him* when it was Daisy’s case. “Sure,” he shrugged. “I mean, I hardly even remember my real mom and dad, I was so little, but I love Uncle Jesse and Luke, and we have fun on the farm.” He cocked his head. “Why?”

“I was just wondering.” The judge gave Jesse a rather interested look. “Hmm.”

He sure said that a lot, Bo thought. “We all just want Daisy to stay in Hazzard,” he said, to get back to the first subject.

“Oh, I can see that.” Finally, the man’s eyes swept back to meet his. He was smiling. “So you want me to just let you have her without the hearing?”

Bo flushed. “Not ‘xactly, sir.”

“But you want me to rule in your favor. Trying to butter me up?”

“No!” he protested, springing up to lean his hands on the desk. “We’re not tryin’ to do anything wrong! We just…” He fought back tears. “Roseanne’s got lawyers to convince and all, but we ain’t got enough money for lawyers. I just wanted you to see our side of it!”

He saw Jesse and Roseanne turn around to look at him when they heard his outburst. He tried to ignore them, but was rapidly feeling foolish. “I guess I’ll just leave you alone,” he said, starting to turn away.

“Oh, it’s all right,” the judge smiled. “I’ll consider what you’ve said.”

“Thanks, I guess,” Bo mumbled, shrugging a little and walking back down the aisle.

“What happened?” Luke wanted to know.

He shrugged, falling onto a pew. “I sorta let it slip, everything about Daisy and the case.”

“Will he help us?” Daisy asked, eyes glowing.

He shrugged again. “I don’t know. He sorta seemed like maybe he would, but sometimes he seemed to be laughing at me.”

“I hope he will,” Enos chimed in.

“We all do,” Luke sighed. “We all do. I guess you did the best you could, Bo.”

Daisy climbed over the back of the pew and sat beside him, putting an arm around him. “Thanks for helping, Bo.”

He smiled, a little, and hugged her back. “Sure. Any time. You’re my cousin.” After a little deliberation, he added, “And my best friend.”

The girl’s eyes shone, and she grinned. “Really?”

“Uh-huh. You and Luke are both my best friends.”

“You’re mine too.”

Bo grinned back at his cousin, then got up to kneel on the seat, turning around to face backwards, toward Luke. “I think we got a chance, Luke. An honest chance!”

Roseanne eyed the children in the corner, wondering what they were plotting. She’d seen the blond boy up with the judge, and hoped he hadn’t managed to poison the man’s mind against her. It would be just the sort of thing a bunch like these might do.

She turned back to Jesse Duke, glaring coldly up at him. “Forget all your complaining and arguing, Mr. Duke. After today, you’ll never see your little niece again.”

Jesse watched her flounce off, and sighed, taking his hat off to rub his head. He too had seen Bo talking to the judge, after he’d seen the kids put their heads together. Hopefully they had a plan. Because right now, he didn’t know what to do. He heard the door open and turned to see Hogg and Sheriff Coltrane come in. The pair made a beeline for Jesse.

“You’re late,” he informed them. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Is that the lady from Atlanta?” Rosco asked, pointing to where Roseanne was speaking to her lawyer.

“I’m afraid so.”

“She looks downright mean!” the sheriff said, drawing himself up and glaring in her direction. “Like, like a regular stone-hearted and stuck-up rich person would.”

“That’s about what she is, Rosco,” Jesse sighed.

“Why, I should go over there an’ give ‘er a piece of my mind!” Rosco declared.

“You stay right here,” Hogg ordered. “You ain’t got a piece of your mind to spare.” The sheriff subsided, still bristling but now at Boss. “When’s the hearing start?”

Jesse shrugged. “As soon as the judge says.”

“Order! To order!” a voice suddenly came from the front, and the three turned to see the judge beckoning them. “Let’s get this over with so I can go fishing,” he smiled. That smile put Jesse a bit more at ease, and he led the march up toward the judge’s desk. The little nameplate there said Sean Carter. “Well?” Carter began even before they had seated themselves. “It seems you have a custody case?” He glanced over some notes on his desk briefly. “Hmm, a Miss Douglas and a Mr. Duke. Who shall speak first?”

“I will, your Honor,” Roseanne stood from her place.

He beckoned. “Come then.”

She came up to the desk and sat where he indicated.

The judge sat back, folding his hands across his lap. “Speak.”

The city woman wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. Trying to gain sympathy, Jesse thought disgustedly. “Your Honor, my name is Roseanne Douglas, and the child in question is my eight-year-old niece, Daisy Mae. She has lived with me for most of her life, and I have given her only the best of everything. I have even had her privately tutored. I have loved her, your Honor.” Her spine stiffened, and she looked over at Jesse. “And then that man, sir, took my beloved little girl away from me. And then when I regained custody, he came and kidnapped her away.”

Jesse leaped to his feet, eyes dark blue flames. “That’s a lie!” he exploded. “An absolute lie! I did nothing of the sort!”

Roseanne turned to Judge Carter beseechingly. “Please, sir, might he be quiet?”

He held up a hand. “No, no, he has a right to say his piece here too.” He nailed Jesse with a hawk-like stare. “What do you have to say?”

He looked at JD, who shrugged, then turned back toward the judge, and cleared his throat, gripping his hat in his hands. He wasn’t sure what to say, but… if he didn’t say the right things, he might lose Daisy forever. So he had to. *Help me, Lord*, he prayed silently, and took a deep breath, clearing his throat.

“Your Honor… I’m not very good at saying things, and maybe I don’t have near as much money as Miss Douglas. But I love all my kids, I daresay more than Miss Douglas here has ever loved Daisy. At least, it certainly seems that way from what I’ve seen her do.” He paused, trying to put his thoughts into words. “I… my boys love her as much as I do, and she’s been truly happy here for the past two months.” He lowered his eyes to study his hat, not meeting anyone’s gaze. “Sir… I know my motivations may, in some ways, be just as selfish as Miss Douglas’. But I ask you to hear me out.”

He paused for several seconds, then continued quietly. “You see, your Honor, my kids mean an awful lot to me. When my wife passed on six years ago, I had nothing left to live for. When Luke’s parents died and he was sent to live with me, it, well, gave me a reason. Then I took in Bo, and now Daisy. We’re a family. A real family, sir. We all love and take care of each other. And we just got attached to Daisy, I don’t know if I could bear to lose her now…”

“Enough!” Roseanne snapped, spinning toward the judge. “Don’t you see how he’s trying to appeal to you?”

He stared her down coldly. “I might say I see the same from you.” As she backed down, he nodded, once. “Thank you, Mr. Duke.” Roseanne and her lawyer were now having an argument over in their corner, and Jesse suspected that the outburst hadn’t helped her case any.

“Thank you, sir,” he said.

Carter nodded. “I have a question. Miss Douglas said you kidnapped her niece away. You said that was not so. What is the true story here?”

Jesse swallowed. But he had to tell the truth. He glanced over at the kids, who were all sitting forward intently. “The truth is, sir, my nephews arranged a sort of… escape for Daisy, with her help. They ran away from home, leaving me scared to death.” He shot the boys a quick stare, and they looked away uncomfortably. “Apparently the kids had it all planned out, and the next day, I found them walking down the highway home.”

The judge chuckled slightly. “I see. So it was the boys’ fault.” He glanced at the back of the church, at the kids. “Well, it’s obvious what they want. I had a nice little talk with Bo earlier.” He nodded toward the blond boy, who slid down in his pew until he was no longer visible. “So… I’ve heard Miss Douglas’ side. I’ve heard your side. I even heard Daisy’s cousins’ side.” He sat back in his chair again, smiling. “But I think I’d like to hear Daisy’s side too.” He beckoned. Come here, child.”

Jesse looked over his shoulder to see a wide-eyed Daisy move reluctantly into the aisle, propelled by Luke’s hand. The girl took one hesitant step forward, then raised her chin and strode proudly up to the judge’s desk.

He smiled down at her. “Well hello, Daisy.”

“Hello, sir,” she replied, still looking bold. Roseanne had the look of an angry porcupine, and Jesse smothered a grin behind one hand.

Carter motioned Daisy to come right up to him, and she did, rubbing her hands on her jeans with what was likely nervousness. The old man and the little girl put their heads together, and then there was a lot of glancing and nodding. Jesse looked again at Roseanne, who now looked like a volcano about to erupt. Finally the judge raised his head, and looked at the adults assembled there.

“Miss Douglas,” he motioned her forward, “I hear good things about you, but also some things which are not so nice. Would you like to explain your actions, such as forbidding the child contact with her family, and denying her any sort of freedoms?”

Roseanne looked nervous, almost afraid, and Jesse almost felt a little sorry for her. “Your Honor, Daisy Mae must learn respect and obedience. I deemed it best to sever her completely from these farm folk because of the bad influence they’ve had on her behavior.”

“From what I hear from people around here,” Carter said with raised eyebrows, “Daisy has also grown stronger and more healthy, and she is certainly happy with her uncle and cousins.”

The city lady hesitated, obviously uncertain what to say. “Your Honor, all I can answer is that I’ve done the best for her, as much as I know how to do.”

“Don’t you think that perhaps the child is better off growing up with others her own age?” the judge pressed, though somewhat gently.

Roseanne’s green eyes flashed. “All I know sir,” she said stiffly, “is that being around others her own age has turned her from a gentle, quiet young lady into a rowdy… tomboy. Which I do not approve of.”

Jesse just had to say something to that. “Roseanne,” he snapped, and all heads turned toward him, “I believe that an eight-year-old child, girl or boy, should not be forced to be a perfect young gentleman or lady. Let the kids be kids! They’ll grow up soon enough!”

“Why don’t you go back to your corn, Mr. Duke,” Roseanne hissed. “What do you know? You cannot afford a tutor, or fine clothes. Who knows what your boys learn in school or how they act?”

Jesse simply stared at her, no longer shouting, but still angry. “Roseanne Douglas, we may not be proper city folk, and we may not even have the best grammar, I know. But we have enough. We don’t have fancy things or cars, but we have a roof that don’t leak, and a fireplace to keep us warm. We have enough food on the table and clothes for our backs, whether they’re occasionally patched or not. And the boys are both A students in school, as is Daisy. I personally help them with their homework. And as for what I’ve taught them, I’ve raised them with respect for true authority and morals straight from the Good Book, but most important, to love each other and take care of each other. Family first, above all.

“And we certainly have fun with how we live.” He stepped forward, slowly. “And we have the most important ingredient for a family, Roseanne. We have love. We have each other and we have the Lord, and that’s all we need.”

There was silence in the room for a few seconds after he finished speaking, and he realized with some surprise that he’d practically given a speech! Then he heard a slow clapping start, and turned to see Rosco grinning, applauding him. It didn’t last long though, as Hogg slapped the sheriff’s hands down and told him to be quiet.

Judge Carter finally sighed, and nodded slowly. “I see. I see.”

“You see what?” Roseanne snapped, stepping forward despite her lawyer’s frantic gestures to shut up and come back. “This is a circus act, your Honor, and he has no call to speak to me in that manner!”

Carter slowly turned his head to fix her with a stare that stopped her dead in her tracks. “Miss Douglas, I believe it is you who is out of line.”

Under that stare, she sat down in the nearest pew, still glaring. “But I protest!”

“Protest noted and denied.” He took a deep breath. “Mr. Duke’s case corresponds with what I have learned from the children. And I do not believe they are lying.” He reached for his gavel, fingering it lightly. “I believe that, between what I’ve heard this morning and what I’ve managed to discover on my own, I am ready to make a decision. Which shall not be revoked or challenged ever again. The guardian of this child will be her guardian until she comes of age.”

Jesse held his breath, praying silently. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rosco tying his tie in a knot. He glanced back at the kids, and saw the three boys leaning forward, tensed. Roseanne was visibly clenching her jaw.

“Therefore,” the judge said, picking up the gavel and raising it, “I award custody of one Daisy Mae Duke to…” He slowly brought the gavel down, then said after a long pause, “Jesse Duke.”

Roseanne erupted up out of her pew. “You can’t do that!” she shouted. “Do you know who I am?!”

Carter favored her with an icy look. “I just did; and I don’t care who you are. I have made a decision. It cannot be contested.”

“But you have to listen to all the evidence from all sides! This court is a joke! You can’t give Daisy Mae to these people after a less than ten minute hearing!”

The judge rose, eyes flashing. “Should I charge you with contempt of court, madam? I have heard all the evidence I need to, Miss Douglas. My decision is final, and the way you are reacting makes me even more certain that I’ve done the right thing. I would suggest you leave this town before its citizens bring you in here for more criminal concerns.” He nodded toward Jesse in a dignified manner, smiling slightly.

The room was silent for about two seconds, then exploded in a burst of sound and movement. Luke and Bo were suddenly with Daisy, their friend Enos right behind them, and the two boys were hugging each other and their cousin with shouts and gleeful, joyful laughter. Jesse stood back and watched them, smiling in his own quiet joy. He had three kids now.

Roseanne stalked up to the four children. “I will not lose,” she hissed. She gripped Daisy by the arm. “I’m taking my niece with me.”

“But you can’t do that!” Enos said, eyes huge. “The man said…”

“I can do anything I please, young man!” she snapped, cutting him off. “And you and her cousins can’t do anything about it.”

“Oh, yes we can!” Judge Carter snapped back, coming around the desk. He tossed his black robes aside to reveal a somewhat muscular build. “If you do not let go of that girl, Miss Douglas, I will have you arrested!”

The city woman only pulled Daisy closer. “Come on, let’s go!”

“But Miss Douglas…” her lawyer was protesting, walking quickly toward her. “You can’t do that!”

“I can’t lose Daisy Mae!” was her heated answer. “Her cousins will just have to accept that!”

Jesse, Rosco, and Carter all started for her, but the boys were faster. Luke suddenly yelled and drove his fist, hard, into Roseanne Douglas’ stomach. She doubled over, gasping, but still kept a tight hold on Daisy. “Actually, we’re her *brothers* now,” Bo said with a dangerous calm, gripping the wrist that was clenched on Daisy’s shirt. The hold looked tight enough to be painful. “And like Uncle Jesse said, fam’ly’s more important than *anything*.”

The judge looked at Jesse, his face asking the farmer if the boys would really hurt Roseanne if she didn’t let go. Jesse nodded, and Carter’s eyes widened. “Mr. Duke…”

Jesse nodded again and strode forward, putting up a hand to stay his nephews from attacking again. “Boys, back off.”

Luke’s eyes flashed hotly to his, glowing with an almost adult fury. Jesse caught those dark blue eyes and held them, until Luke finally dropped his gaze, muttering, “Let go, Bo.” The blond boy sullenly obeyed, and Carter relaxed visibly, as did the city lawyer.

Jesse spoke into the sudden silence. “This *is* our town, Roseanne. We won this court. Daisy belongs to us. Now, let go of my niece.”

Roseanne looked up from rubbing her wrist to meet his gaze, and he was startled to see a fear there in her eyes, almost a pain too. “She’s my niece too. I’ve taken care of her for five years. I’ve tried to teach her all I know. I’ve done more for her… You have to let me have this child.”

Judge Carter cleared his throat. “Let go of the girl, Miss Douglas, or I’ll have you put away. And I could do it, too.”

Rosco was right behind him. “I’m the sheriff,” he flashed his badge proudly. “And what I say goes ’round here, and I say get out o’ town.”

“I’ll have you locked away if the judge don’t,” Hogg threatened.

“Shall I cuff ‘er?” Rosco asked.

“No, not if she lets go and leaves.” JD’s face hardened. “Right now!!”

Roseanne held her ground, sudden hatred written across her well-bred face. “I could have these farmers locked away instead of me! For assault!”

“Oh, I just see it as protectin’ their family,” Rosco grinned. “Are ya gonna let go, or do you care to sample the jail meals?”

Slowly, her grip loosened. Daisy twisted away, diving behind Bo, Luke, and Enos and staring out with wide eyes. “You bunch of… of hillbillies!” Roseanne sputtered, but no longer with as much conviction. “You can’t do anything to me! I have lawyers, money..!”

“An’ I have a badge,” the sheriff came in again. “Now, are you leavin’?”

“Around here, a man’s family is a fightin’ matter,” Jesse told the woman quietly. “Daisy’s ours now, like she should be. Like she wants to be. So you just get on out of town before I let the boys at you again.” The words were a soft, angry threat. “I’ve had about enough of your insults, Roseanne. I know you were against Marian marrying Henry, and you thought maybe you could turn Daisy into a Douglas instead of a Duke. Well, she wants to stay here, with us. She knows both sides of her heritage now. And she didn’t choose yours.”

Daisy slowly came out from behind Bo, staring up at her aunt. “Aunt Roseanne, I never meant for all this to happen. I love you, or at least I used to. I don’t know if I can anymore, not with the way you treat Uncle Jesse and Luke and Bo. They’re my family, Aunt Roseanne. I *fought* to be accepted, to be a real Duke. And I’ve been happy here.” Her eyes were brimming with tears, Jesse could see. “Why didn’t you just let me stay in Hazzard to begin with? None of this ever would have happened.”

There was silence, then all the fire in Roseanne’s eyes slowly died, and her gaze lowered to the ground. She slowly knelt down in front of Daisy, awkwardly. Luke and Bo, flanking their younger cousin, tensed, but the woman made no threatening moves, only reached out and took Daisy’s hand. “You really fought to join… this family? Why?”

“Because I love it here in Hazzard. I love the farm, and the woods, and the creek. And… and my family will always be there for me, I know that. Especially Uncle Jesse. He’ll always love me.”

Now the tears were in Jesse’s eyes too, as he watched from the side, his hand on Judge Carter’s elbow to keep him out of the conversation. “Really?” he whispered.

The girl turned to look up at him. Her eyes were shining. “Yes. I knew that for a fact the day you came in and held me when I fell in the mud.”

Luke blushed. “I didn’t mean for you to get hurt or nothin’.”

“It’s okay.” She put an arm around him. “I had to learn to survive.” She directed her words to her aunt again. “And once I learned how to play with them, and how to not be a crybaby or too girlish, I had a whole lot of fun!”

All were silent for a moment, then Roseanne slowly raised her head to look up at Daisy. Jesse was shocked to see tears in her eyes. “Daisy… you never told me you were unhappy at the manor before. All I wanted was for you to have the best of everything. To teach you what I knew, to train you the way I thought you should be trained…” Her head bowed again. “Daisy Mae, what have I done?” she whispered, almost inaudibly.

“Well, for one thing,” Luke started, but Daisy clapped a hand over his mouth.

“Shut up, Luke.” She returned her attention to her aunt, tilting her head to try to see the city woman’s face. “Aunt Roseanne, I just wanna be me. I love who I can be in Hazzard. I love my cousins. I love Uncle Jesse.”

Roseanne let out a breath, slowly, a long, drawn-out sigh. “I know, Daisy Mae. I know.” She stood, and put her hand on Daisy’s shoulder. “I… I suppose I was… wrong to take you away.” She met Jesse’s eyes, hers now overflowing with tears. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to do the best for Daisy. I… I care about her.”

Jesse smiled, slowly. “Are you tryin’ to tell me that you’ve finally learned how to love, Roseanne Douglas? And you don’t know how to show it?”

“I suppose.” She took out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “She’s the only one who ever saw me for just who I am, the only one who wasn’t really afraid of me. She… she used to trust me. And now, in trying to regain that, I’ve lost it all. I’ve lost Daisy forever…” She finally trailed off, looking only at the floor. “I’ve always had my prejudices against your kind; the poor working class, I saw you. In truth, perhaps… you may actually be a better class of people than my own.”

Jesse nodded, slowly, as he put an arm around his young niece. “I suppose you ain’t the only one with prejudices against another class of folk. I never liked your kind, neither. Roseanne… the Lord said forgive and you shall be forgiven. I’m willin’ to forgive… if you are.”

Everyone else there stood back in shocked surprise as the heads of the two feuding families finally stood together without angry words. Roseanne Douglas and Jesse Duke slowly smiled at each other, and Jesse stepped forward one step, holding out one hand. Rosanne stared at the offering, then reached her own well-manicured hand to meet his rough one. Hesitantly, they embraced, like members of a divided family now coming together again. Tears were in the eyes of both as old enemies finally made their peace.

Daisy looked up at the two adults with surprised, wide eyes, then slowly smiled. She looked at Bo and Luke, on either side of her, and the smile widened into a country grin. She gripped one of her cousins’ hands in each of hers, and they glanced back at her. Joy was bubbling up inside her; she had all of her family now!

Roseanne and Jesse looked down at the kids together, and the city lady reached out to take Daisy into a hug, then looked at the boys, and shook their hands, smiling uncertainly. “You were very brave to come rescue your cousin like that,” she told them. “Maybe you children… have been the end of a feud that has lasted for generations. I suppose I have to thank you.”

Bo stared up at her with shocked eyes. “Hon… honest?” he stammered. “You’re not gonna try and take Daisy away anymore?”

“No,” she sighed. “I won’t. Maybe your uncle’s right, maybe I don’t know how to love.” She backed off, picking up her purse. “I understand that you’ll probably never want me around… I suppose I’ll leave now.”

“No, Roseanne,” Jesse interposed, putting a hand on her arm. “You do love Daisy, I know that, and you’re always welcome at the farm.”

Slowly, the city woman smiled, wiping more tears out of her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you so much for forgiving me. After all I’ve done… All I’ve said… How can you?”

Jesse moved his hand to her shoulder, smiling kindly. “Let’s forget about the past, eh? What about lunch? Ellie down at the cafe serves a great tuna casserole and homemade ice cream.”

“Certainly… sure,” Roseanne answered, with a twinkle in her eyes, and what was probably the first non-proper word she’d ever used in her life.

All fighting was apparently forgotten by the three Duke kids and Enos, who all leaped for the door with shouts of “Race ya!”, “No way!”, “I get first dig in the ice cream!”, and, from Enos, “Hey! Wait up!”

The two adults followed in their wake, leaving Roseanne’s shark-faced lawyer, JD Hogg, and Rosco all standing with mouths hanging wide open. The only one left behind who was not doing an impersonation of a fish was Judge Carter, who was smiling and nodding to himself. Quite an unusual case. But definitely a happy ending. He shrugged a little, then turned to go back toward the office, whistling quietly to himself.