by: Trix

While Boss had made Rosco stay at the Dalton farm to look for the will left by Bry, the Duke cousins sped back to the Duke farm to talk to Uncle Jesse.

“What do you think Uncle Jesse?” Bo asked as they sat at the kitchen table.

Jesse sighed. “I don’t know. I mean, Bry had left a copy of his will at the house but his lawyer has the original.”

“What does the will say?” Daisy asked.

“It says that if anything should happen to him or Gus the property goes to Khas.”

Luke stood and rubbed his jaw as he paced, thinking. “Somethin’ just isn’t right here. I mean, why would Boss give a hoot about a will Bry had left? Why would he be so interested in Shelley, too?”

“I’m gonna go back to the house,” Bo said. “Watch Rosco.”

“I’m with ya on that one, cuz,” Luke said. “Daisy stay here with Uncle Jesse incase Khas calls for somethin’.”

“All right. Ya’ll be careful. I don’t have a good feelin’ about this.”

“We will,” Bo said as the walked to the General Lee.

Before they could take off, a familiar voice came over the radio. “Bo? Luke? Daisy? Can anyone hear me?”

Both Luke and Bo reached for the CB at the same time. They struggled over it before Luke won out. “Give me the darn thing, Bo!”

“Fine!” Bo shouted.

“Boys!” Uncle Jesse warned. “Khas needs us…”

“Hello…?”

At the sound of Khas’ voice, Luke said, “We’re here, Khas. What do you need?”

“I’m headed to the Dalton house. I can’t explain right now but meet me there…now. If we don’t get there soon, I’ll lose that house and land!”

“We’re on our way. Lets go Bo!”

“Me and Uncle Jesse are right behind ya’ll.”

“Okay,” Luke said as he and Bo sped off to meet Khas.

Meanwhile, Boss had made it to the Dalton house and was impatiently waiting for Rosco to find the hidden will. “I found it!”

Boss grabbed the paper out of the Sheriff’s hands and laughed. “I knew I’d find it!”

“Uh, Boss, what’re you goin’ to do with it?”

“Reap the rewards, you knitwit!”

Just then they heard screeching tires outside of the house. Seconds later, Khas burst through the door with her mother not far behind. “Hand it over right now, Boss!”

Rosco said, “Uh oh, proper language.” He knew what it meant it meant when Khas used proper words in such a tone. “I don’t think this is a real good idea, Boss…”

“Shut up, Rosco! This land is mine now, Ms. Dalton.”

Khas reigned in her anger. “Give it too me now, Boss. I know of your law but I am a living relative and this land is mine.”

“Not anymore.”

“Give the will to her, Boss,” Shelley said.

Boss laughed. “Did you tell the little lady of your sore did past? Then…”

“Yes, she did,” Khas interrupted him.

They all fell silent. Khas and Shelley were not going to let Boss or Rosco leave the house and Boss wasn’t going to give it back. Rosco, as much as he knew it was wrong, wasn’t going to interfere. He knew he had done something wrong.

After a few minutes of silence another car was heard outside and Bo and Luke walked in, soon after them was Daisy and Jesse.

“You can’t prove anything unless you have this will,” Boss smiled. “And I’m not handing it over.”

“Well,” Jesse said, “We’re not leavin’ here until you do.”

“Seems we have a standoff,” Luke said.

Rosco looked at the anger on Khas’ face, it was mixed with fear, he noticed. Fear of losing the only thing she had left of her family. He looked out of the living room window and tried to think of what to do. How could he fix this mess. As he looked out of the window, he saw Enos’ patrol car stop on the road. Enos waited for a familiar face to get out before driving off.

Rosco half smiled. Khas caught it. “What are you smiling at Rosco?”

“Nothin!’” he bellowed. “Boss, er, um..”

“Spit it out, you twit!”

“Enos is here.”

“What in Sam’s blazes is he doin’ here?”

“I don’t know.”

Khas didn’t care. She only cared about one thing. “Give me the will Boss.”

“No.”

“Right now.”

“No.”

“Boss, I swear…”

“Swear at nothing, young lady.”

The male voice behind her made Khas nearly jump. She heard her mother gasp as the man walked into the middle of the room, between them and Boss.

“Well, well,” Boss smiled, knowing something none of them did. “Gordon.”

“What are you doing here?” Shelley asked, shocked to see him. “Where are the twins?”

“Twins?” Daisy mouthed to Luke and Bo.

Both shrugged their shoulders.

“They’re with your mother in Texas. Boss, may I see the will?”

Boss chuckled and said, “After I clarify something. Would you be so kind as to tell yer wife and step-daughter what you’re doin’ here?”

Gordon looked at Shelley, his eyes sad. “I’m the one who stole this piece of the will and stopped it from getting to Bry’s lawyer.”

“What? Why?” Shelley asked, shocked.

“I was hurt that you had an affair with Gus and when Boss told me you were expectin’ his child I guess doin’ the right thing was not on my list of things to do.”

Khas looked at him with anger. “I have had a lot of things thrown at me in the last few days. I want that will and I want it now. Why are you here?”

Gordon looked at the young woman in front of him. She had her mother’s skin tone but otherwise looked nothing like Shelley. He still could not believe that he had taken his anger and hurt out on an innocent child that was yet to be born. And now here he was, staring at the child nineteen years later. She was on the verge of losing something important, her heritage.

“I am willing to testify in court that I stole the will. That is, if Boss doesn’t hand it over.”

“Gordon,” Shelley gasp. “Your career.”

“Means nothing if I don’t right this wrong. We can talk at home, Shelley. Khas is what is important right now.”

Boss looked as if he was getting riled up. “I have no choice but to give back the will. But here this! I will tell all of Hazzard about you, Shelley. You will never be able to come back to this town again.”

Shelley squared her shoulders and faced off with Boss. “Khas is not a humiliation to me any longer. I realize I did wrong by her and I will accept any backlash from this town as payment for it.”

Boss huffed and gave the will to Rosco. “Lets go Rosco!”

“Yes, yes. Right away, Boss.” Rosco walked after Boss but stopped to give Khas the will. “I believe this is yours.”

Khas took the will and said, “Your forgiven, Rosco. Just go.”

When the two were gone, Shelley said, “Gordon I…”

“You made a decision, I made a decision,” he said. “We’ll talk through this.”

Shelley hugged him, then turned to Khas. “I am so sorry, Khas. I don’t expect forgiveness.”

“And you won’t get it. However, you did come back to try and right a wrong. Boss Hogg tends to interfere with things he shouldn’t. You just happened to be one of those things. Don’t expect me to call you mom. Maybe we can be friends on some sort of level in the future.”

“I’d really like that,” Shelley said as tears rolled down her face.

“As for you,” Khas said as she turned to Gordon. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For what you just did. I understand what betrayal is. If I were you, I would have done the same thing.”

“I am sorry. I should have never have taken it out on you.”

Khas nodded. “I meant what I said, Shelley. I want to know my twin siblings. Maybe, when you and I have worked some things through, you can come visit me and introduce me.”

“It’s a promise,” Shelley said.

“I know it’s a bad time but Shelley and I should head home. The twins will be wondering where their mother went off too.”

“I understand,” Khas said. “Goodbye, Shelley.”

Shelley took her hand and said, “I will phone you when I get home and we’ll discuss how we want to do this.”

“Sounds good.”

“Goodbye,” she said to the Dukes. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“Trouble can be a good thing,” Jesse said.

“Have a safe trip,” Daisy said.

“Thank you. Goodbye now.”

Khas watched from the porch with the Dukes as her mother and Gordon drove off. She sighed. Bo put an arm around her. “Are you alright, KB?”

Khas nodded. “I think so. A lot to digest in such a short time.”

“Well honey,” Daisy said. “You’ll have us and yer friends to help you through this.”

“That’s right. Now, lets get that will to Mr. Uton at his house than git some supper,” Jesse said.

“Sounds good,” Luke smiled. “Khas is with us!” he said as he grabbed Khas and got her to the General Lee before Daisy could protest.

Khas let out a laugh and said, “See you on the road!”

Balladeer: Well, that was an interestin’ ending. Mr. Uton filed the rest of the will in his papers and declared Khas the full and rightful owner of the Dalton land and everything on it. Boss is still smartin’ at his loss and takin’ out on no other than Rosco P. Coltrane. As for Khas’ mother and Gordon, they’re workin’ things out and their twins now know they have a big sister. Hmm, just another crazy time in Hazzard County.

The End

by: Trix

Khas was grooming her horse when her mother stepped into the barn. She wasn’t sure what to say to the woman, a stranger who did not feel like family, so she waited for Shelley to speak.

“Am I interrupting?”

Khas shook her head. “No.”

Shelley came to stand outside of Pumpkin’s stall, a little nervous. “There is something I wish to ask you.”

“Yes?”

After taking a deep breath, she asked, “Would you, that is, will you join me on a little weekend trip?”

“This weekend?” Khas asked as she stopped grooming her horse. It was a shocking idea but…

“Yes. It will be just Friday and Saturday, I’ll bring you back on Sunday.”

The words were a little rushed it seemed to Khas, but considering her mother’s sudden appearance back in Hazzard it did not seem odd. “I was supposed to work at the ranch but I guess one weekend away wouldn’t hurt.”

Shelley was so shocked that her mouth dropped. Khas was barely talking to her as it was and her daughter’s quick agreement was, to say the least, unnerving. “Are you sure?”

Khas thought a moment. “Yeah. My father didn’t raise a coward, and that’s what I’d be if I ran away from you. You gave birth to me and then dropped me off like you didn’t care about me. I deserve a real explanation from you. Maybe this little trip away will help the both of us.”

Shelley nodded her head. Khas did deserve to know the truth. There was no getting around breaking the girl’s heart. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow around nine o’clock in the morning?”

“That’s fine.”

“I’ll see you then. ‘Bye.”

“’Bye.”

Khas watched her mother drive away, wondering what made her mother suddenly want to leave Hazzard with her. She was so lost in thought leaning on the fence that she didn’t hear someone walk up behind her.

“Khas.”

She spun around to see Danny behind her. “Danny! I didn’t hear you.”

He smiled. “You’re thoughts were somewhere else. What’d she want?”

“She asked if I wanted to go away for the weekend with her. I said yes.”

Danny gave her a confused looked. “Why?”

Khas sighed, walking back into the barn to Pumpkin. “Because I need her to tell me the truth about why she left me. Why she abandoned me and left me with my father, not ever calling or writing. And something tells me that Boss Hogg has something to do with it.”

“Why wouldn’t that surprise me?” Danny shook his head, grabbing a brush and helping Khas groom her horse. “Are you sure yer ready for this?”

“No, but I’d be crazy to back away from a chance to find out the truth.”

Danny studied her. “Not going on this trip wouldn’t make you a coward, Khas. If yer not ready, don’t go.”

Khas stared at him, shocked he picked up on her thoughts. “I don’t think I am ready. But I promised I’d go and I will. Just…it means I can’t work this weekend.”

He didn’t miss her change of subject. “That’s fine. I can get one of my friends to cover for you. I’ll let my dad know.”

“Thanks.”

Later that night, at dinner, Khas let the Dukes know of her plans for the weekend. They were shocked, but mostly worried. They would stand behind her no matter what her choice ended up being.

After dinner, when Bo and Khas were alone in the kitchen cleaning up, Bo asked, “Are you sure about this, darlin’?”

She nodded. “Yes Bo, I am. I know yer worried, but I’ll be fine. Take care of Drifter for me.”

Bo smiled. “Yer only goin’ to be gone for two days, Khas.”

“I know but he gets cranky if he’s not driven everyday.”

Bo almost dropped a plate he was drying. “Yer gonna let me drive’im!?”

Khas laughed. “Yes. Just on the back roads, though.”

“I’ll do my best to keep’im in line for ya.”

Khas shook her head, chuckling. “I’m sure you will. Oh, and take care of Pumpkin, too.”

“I will,” Bo laughed. “Don’t you worry about a thing. Everything will be fine when you get back.”

“I’m counting on it,” she said under her breath. “I’m counting on it.”

The next morning, Shelley arrived at nine and, after saying goodbye to the Dukes, she and Khas head on their way.

“Where are we going?”

“Well, there’s a nice hotel a few towns out. It has a swimming pool and great breakfasts and dinners. I thought it would be a nice place to stay, private and relaxing. So we can talk.”

Khas nodded. A couple of hours later they were at the hotel. It was beautiful and cozy. The room was fairly spacious, with two beds that looked like heaven to sleep in and a nice bathroom. A great view of the country side out the window.

“Would you like to grab some lunch, then maybe a take a swim in the pool afterwards?”

Khas nodded. “That sounds nice.”

When they arrived back in their room, after the swim, Shelley asked, “Would you like to have dinner in the room? That way we can talk in private?”

“Yes.”

As they ate, Khas asked, “Do you have a family?”

“What?” Shelley asked, surprised by the question.

“I was wondering if you had a family now?”

Shelley took a deep breath and put down her fork. “Yes, I do.”

Khas wasn’t prepared for the sudden wave of hurt that swept through her. She had thought that the answer wouldn’t have mattered but it did. Her mother had a family and yet she was abandoned? “Children?”

“Yes. Twins, Gordon Jr. and Rebecca.”

She had siblings! “May I see a picture?”

Shelley appeared shocked for a moment, then she reached into her purse and took out a picture of her children. They looked like her mother, Khas thought. While Khas had the Dalton traits, she did have her mother’s pale, creamy-white skin instead of the Dalton’s olive skin tone.

The twins looked little like her, but she wondered if they knew they had a big sister? “Do they know of me?”

Ashamed, Shelley lowered her head. “No, they don’t and neither does my husband. His father was once the mayor of Hazzard and he followed in his father’s footsteps. He was the mayor in an east Texas town and is now looking to be one in the town we just moved to.”

“I think you need to tell me something, Shelley,” Khas said. If she was going to the entire story, now was the time. All the bombshells at once, she figured that was the easiest way to go.

Shelley stood up and walked towards the window. She began to speak as Khas moved over to the bed. “I was dating Gordon when Gus and I had an affair. It was unexpected but not something I regret. When I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t know what to do. The Dalton’s moved after the death of Bry’s other child, shortly after me and Gus had an affair. I moved to Texas to stay with my grandmother, and I told Gordon I was leaving because she was ill.”

“What did your parents say?”

“That I should stay with my grandmother until I had my baby and then give you up for adoption, never telling your father,” Shelley said. “I did stay with my grandmother until I had you but I couldn’t give you to strangers so I found out where Gus and Bry were living and drove up to New England and gave you to him and Bry. With them, I knew you’d be safe and be loved.”

Khas swallowed, hard. “Why haven’t you told your husband?”

“Because, it would ruin his chance of becoming mayor and it would hurt him too much to tell him now. All these lies for so long…”

“So I was a dark secret to be hidden away?”

Shelley braced herself for the anger in Khas. “You were never a regret, Khas.”

“Then what was I?”

“A…you were a treasure I couldn’t have. And didn’t deserve.”

Khas felt the tears coming but she held them back. What could she say? Her mother had just told her the ugly truth and yet there seemed to be something missing from the story, something big. She was about to ask what she thought it was but she held back. Could she really handle the whole truth in one night? The pain in her gut was large enough at the moment to choke her.

“Khas…”

“Shelley, let’s just eat dinner and get some rest. It’s been a long day. We can talk tomorrow.”

Shelley nodded. She had expected anger and harsh words. Instead, Khas had remained calm, choosing not to lash out at her. They enjoyed their dinner in silence and sleep came soon after, relieving both of them of the hurt for few short hours.

When she woke up, Khas took a shower and dressed. As she looked in the mirror she almost didn’t recognize herself. She was Khas but something had changed and she couldn’t figure out what it was that made her look different. As she waited for Shelley to finish with her shower, Khas wished she was home with the Dukes. Her home. How she wished she had Uncle Jesse with her now, he’d know what to do, what to say. She’s wondered what the were doing right now?

Balladeer: What indeed. I believe I would like to know that, too.

Back in Hazzard, Bo, Luke and Daisy were trying to figure out why Boss Hogg was so interested in Shelley. They followed Rosco after he left the Boar’s Nest. To their surprise, they ended going down the road to the Dalton house. They watched from the bushes as Roscoe got out of his car.

“What is he doin’?” Daisy whispered.

“I don’t know,” Luke said. “No doubt it’s something Boss came up with.”

“It looks like he’s searching fer somethin’,” Bo said.

They appoarched the house slowly and as quietly as possible, so they wouldn’t startle Rosco. They couldn’t understand what he was looking for so they went back to the General Lee.

“Let’s go back to the farm. Maybe Jesse’ll know what Rosco and Boss are looking for,” Luke said.

“Good idea,” his cousins agreed.

Back at the hotel, after they had eaten lunch, Khas and her mother were walking around the property. “So, are you going to tell your husband I exist?”

Shelley took a deep breath. “Honestly? I don’t know if I should. Not after all these years.”

“So, you’re willing to keep your husband in the dark and your twins go on living not knowing they have an older sister?” Khas kept her voice in check, not letting her anger seep through.

“Yes. Are you saying that you’d like to be a part of their lives?”

Khas thought a moment. She had her family, her friends. She belonged somewhere. But she now had a brother and a sister. Her father would roll over in his grave if didn’t acknowledge it! “Yes, I would. I know I can’t see them often because we live in different states, but I would like to know them.”

Shelley could have cried. As angry as Khas was at her, she was willing and wanting to know her siblings. “I promise to tell my family about you if you are serious about what you just said.”

“I swear to you, Shelley, that I want to know my siblings.”

“Then…I’ll speak to my husband and children when I get back home.”

Khas nodded. She realized that it wouldn’t be easy for her mother to tell her family the truth, and for that Khas’ anger lessoned and became more of a numb feeling. Maybe, just maybe, if she could not feel love for her mother, she could feel understanding. And maybe after a few years, she could forgive her and they could be friends on some level.

Shelley knew that if she didn’t tell Khas the whole truth it would haunt her until the day she died and any friendly feelings Khas had towards her would be false. And, she realized, that if Khas lost the Dalton house and land, her daughter would have a huge hole inside of her soul for the rest of her life. “Khas, there’s something you should know.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Khas said as she stopped walking.

Shelley turned to her and the words came rushing out. “Boss found out I was pregnant with you and promised me that if me and my family left town that he wouldn’t tell a soul about me and Gus…and you. So, I left town, to my grandmothers- as I said before. When I came back to see you, Boss found me and…”

“And what?”

“He said that if I didn’t help him do something he would tell the entire town of Hazzard, as well as my husband, about me and Gus and the child we had together.”

“And what was that something?”

“He…he kept a legal paper from getting to your father’s lawyer in New England. It was a will that Bry had saying that if anything happened to him and Gus that the house and land went directly to you. Mr. Uton, the lawyer in Hazzard, never saw that part of the will because Boss had someone intercept that addition to it before Mr. Uton could receive it.”

“Who could have done that?” Khas asked. “If it was witnessed by my father than it was legal. Did the person who intercepted it hide it?”

Shelley shook her head. “I think so because all Boss knows is that it’s hidden in the house.”

Khas wondered who could have done such a thing. But that wasn’t important right now. “What else?”

Shelley went on. “As I said, the will stated that you have the house and land, even before you turned 21. But Boss has a law that states if a piece of land is abandoned for eighteen years that property belongs to him. But if there’s a living relative, no one can claim it unless or until that person is 21. You are 19, Khas.”

It suddenly dawned on Khas what her mother was telling her. “Are you saying that I own the Dalton land outright but because Grandpa’s will was never found it will belong to Boss because it has been abandoned for 18 years?”

“Yes.”

“You lured me out here so that Boss Hogg could find the will and take away my family’s land from underneath my feet!?”

“I…I..”

“How could you!?” Thoughts ran rampant in Khas’s mind. She couldn’t lose that house and land. It was her past, her future, her entire soul was attached to that house since her father and grandfather past away. “Take me back to Hazzard, right now!”

Shelley had to run to keep up with Khas. They packed their bags and checked out. When Shelley started the car she turned to Khas and said, “I am truly sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

Khas gave her an angry stare and said, “Just put your foot to the floor and don’t stop until we reach the Dalton house.”

Shelley didn’t hesitate and did as Khas told her to do. She knew she had just lost her daughter for the second time.

“Just so you know, you will never be forgiven for this. Ever,” Khas told her as her heart raced with fear. She couldn’t lose that land. It would kill her. They had to get there and fast. “Stop!”

Shelley slammed on the brakes and pulled off the road, thank the lord no one was on it with them. “What?”

“Get out and switch sides. I can get there faster. I know the back roads better than you.”

As soon as she was back on the, Khas began to map the fastest way to the house. She’d get the Dukes on CB as soon as she was sure they’d be able to reach the house as soon as she did. An urgency on like any other gripped her insides as she drove.

“Darn it!” she hit the wheel. “I wish I had Drifter!”

Balladeer: Anyone but me feel the same way as Khas? Drifter sure would come in handy right now. Yes, he would.

by: Trix

Khas sat silently in her cell. What had she done to deserve this day was beyond her. And it wasn’t even supper time yet! How much worse could it get today?

“Khas!” she heard someone call from upstairs.

“She’s downstairs,” she heard Rosco say.

She heard footsteps and finally saw Daisy, Luke and Bo come around the corner. Daisy asked, “Are you alright, honey?”

“Don’t ask. Can you get me out of here?”

Bo said, “No. Rosco informed us that you are here for twenty-four hours.”

“Man!”

“Just stay calm, Khas. We’ll git you out.”

“How?”

“Tomorrow,” he said. “Until then why don’t you tell me what’s going on.”

“I don’t know. I was going to my car from seeing mom, and Rosco told me that Boss wanted to me. So, I figured I’d come because how much worse could my day get? All I know is I asked Boss what the point was about my mother and he threw me in here.”

“He asked about Shelley?” Bo said.

“Why would Boss want to know about Shelley?” Daisy wondered.

“I don’t know.”

“Look, Khas,” Luke started, “We’ll go see yer mother and you hang tight. Lets not git Boss riled about about…..whatever he’s riled up about until we know the story.”

“That okay with you darlin’?” Bo took her hand between the bars.

Khas nodded. “I guess.”

“Alright,” Daisy said. “If you need anything make sure Rosco calls us, ya hear?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

“First thing, sugar,” Daisy gave her a comforting smile.

The Next Morning:
Khas, as patiently as she could, waited for one of the Dukes to come and pick her up from the jailhouse. What she had done, she still didn’t know but for now all she wanted was some breakfast and to go home. As she breathed in and let out a heavy sigh she heard footsteps coming downstairs. She walked to the bars hoping it was a Duke…what she got was a Hogg.

She sank back from the bars and waited for Boss to say something. “You can go now, Miss Dalton. Your keys to your car and…your car are waitin’ upstairs.”

He was acting too nice for her liking. She kept cool and said, as Boss unlocked the cell,
“Thanks Boss.”

“No problem dear.”

Dear?

“Oh,” he added, “and your mother is outside too.”

Mother?

Khas took another deep breath and walked out of the jailhouse and to her car, after Rosco gave her back her things. Her mother was waiting at the sidewalk. “What’re you doing here?”

“Daisy called so I decided to come and see if you were okay,” Shelley said.

“Now you care?” Khas retorted, but regretted her tone immediately. “Sorry. It’s been a long night.”

“It’s alright. Are you okay?”

“Fine,” Khas said. Then added, “By chance, do you know why Boss Hogg was asking me about you?”

Shelley thought for a minute, then answered, “Well…no. The last I saw of Boss was before I left town. He said that the town of Hazzard would miss me.”

“Anything else?”

“Let me think for a few hours. It’s been nearly twenty years since the day I left.”

Khas felt like saying ‘left to get rid of me’ but bit her tongue. Nothing was going to be solved if she got snappy or angry. “Do that and I’ll call you around lunchtime.”

Shelley nodded and watched Khas get into her car. “This was your fathers’.”

“I know,” was all Khas said and gave a half smile to her mother and then drove off the the Duke Farm.

On the way, the General Lee drove up behind. Luke came over her CB. “Is that you, KB?”

“Yes,” she said.

“We were coming to get you out?” Luke said.

“Boss let me out earlier than expected.” There was a pause before she added, “My mother was waiting for me.”

“Did she know…”

“She said no. She came to check on me and that’s it.”

“Well, lets go back to the farm and talk some more about this.”

“Alright. I’m out.”

When she arrived, Daisy immediately hugged her and Jesse made her sit at the table for some breakfast. She told them everything about Boss Hogg and her mother. They too were suspicious about Boss. It was what her mother would remember that had them guessing.

“In a few hours we’ll know what she does remember so just keep yer pants on,” Jesse told them. “Khas, dear, what happened with yer mother the other day? Before Rosco and Boss…”

Khas shrugged. “She explained to me why she gave me up to daddy and grampa. I’m very angry but I understand and that’s why, I think, my anger isn’t as great as it used to be.”
“In time, suger, in time,” Daisy said.

“For now what I need from her is her memory. Why is Boss so interested in her anyway? It was nearly twenty years ago.”

Bo said, “Like Uncle Jesse says, we’ll wait until lunchtime and find out.”

“But I need to do something now,” Khas stressed. “I need to busy my mind.”

“What about one of your friends?” Daisy suggested. “Rita, Violet, Danny?”

Khas rolled her eyes. “Danny is out of town for until Monday and Rita and Violet are worried enough about me as it is. I don’t need them frettin’ over me right now.”
Jesse patted her hand and said, “Alright then. Why don’t you go out and ride Pumpkin. You’ve been neglectin’ ridin’ that mare since yer mom showed up. I have a feelin’ she’s not happy with you.”

Khas nodded. It was true. She’s been neglecting her horse, Pumpkin, for some time now. Khas only got her two months ago from Danny’s family, for helping at their farm, and loved the horse to death. “Okay. Daisy, want to come with me?”

“Of course, sugar!” Daisy smiled at her. “Sounds like fun.”

Balladeer: I bet Boss isn’t losin’ much sleep over this whole thing…

“Boss,” Rosco started to ask as he walked into Boss Hogg’s office at the Boar’s Nest. “Why’d ya put lil’ Khas in jail?”

Boss looked annoyed at the question but answered anyway. “ ‘Cause, I had to get her outta the way.”

“Outta yer way fer…”

“Nevermind, Rosco! Just call up Khas’s mama and git her down here.”

“What do I tell you want her for?”

“She’ll know,” was all Boss would say on the subject.

Not wanted to get yelled at again, Rosco did as Boss asked. Shelley was on her way to see Boss. Rosco had a bad feeling about the whole thing and did not want to be a part of whatever Boss was brewing. It was one thing to put Khas in jail for becoming a Duke, that was justified, but it was another to use Khas’ mother to hurt the young girl. Again. Rosco remembered the Dalton’s with great admiration and respect and was sadden by the news of their deaths. For the first time since he wa with Boss, he realized that he might not be able to go through with whatever Boss was thinking of doing. He just knew he wouldn’t be able too.

“Rosco! Git in here!” Boss bellowed from his office. Shelley had arrived while Rosco was sitting at the bar counter. He never saw her come in. He walked into the office and shut the door.

“Miss Shelley, welcome back to Hazzard,” he smiled. “Won’t you sit down?”
Shelley sat in the chair opposite of the desk, Rosco leaned against the wall. “Hello Boss, Rosco.”

“Miss Shelley.”

“How can I help you Mr. Hogg?”

Boss leaned forward and rested his hands on his desk. “I hear yer in town for a few days…”

“Yes, to see Khas.” Shelley knew where this was going and didn’t like it one bit.

“Nice young lady you have there in Khas.”

Shelley interuppted him. “What do you want, Boss?”

“You to return the favor you owe me from before you left.”

“What do you want?” she repeated.

Boss smiled smugly for he knew he was about to trap Shelley for the second time in her life. “I did you a favor when you learned you were expecting, didn’t I?”

“Yes.”

“What did I do?”

“You promised that if me and my family left Hazzard you wouldn’t tell anyone that I was pregnant. So if we ever came back I wouldn’t be ashamed.”

“In this town I have a law, that if a property is abandoned for more then 18 years that property is to belong to whoever claims it first.”

“What’s the catch?”

“Of course, the catch. You know me well, I see. I made the law. The catch is is that if there is a living family member to claim it, or it has been left to someone, no one can claim it until or unless that person is 21,” Boss smiled before continuing. “As you well know your daughter is 19. In part of his will that his lawyer didn’t receive because someone stopped it from being mailed.”

“From here in Hazzard?” Shelley was shocked that Boss would do such a thing.

“Yep.”

“What are you getting at Boss?”

“Khas has started to clean up the property and such for some reason and there is a copy of that will signed by Bry and witnessed by Gus that should anything happen to them the property would go to Khas. I do not want her to find that will because her lawyer can use it in court. I want you to get that girl outta my town so that I can use that property for my own use.”

“For something illegal no doubt.”

“Watch yer tongue. If you don’t do this I’ll make sure that every citizen of this town knows that you and Gus Dalton had an affair and Khas was the result. How would this town feel if they found out that Miss Shelley Blakewood had an illagediment child while she was dating the Mayor’s son.”

“It would ruin Gordon’s life if you did that! He thinks I left because my grandmother was ill. This would kill his chances of becoming mayor in Leewood, Texas.”

“Yes. His wife, the temptress.”

Shelley couldn’t believe this. She hadn’t even told Khas she was married. No one knew. Her and Gordon Pruitt, once a mayors son, had married after the family moved from Hazzard and their friends behind for Texas. No one could know. It would kill Khas to learn of the real reasons she left her and it would kill Khas to learn that she had two more children, twins- a boy and a girl. What was she going to do?”

“Well?” Boss grinned in triumph.

“Fine. I’ll try an coax her into leaving town for a few days with me so that you can find the will.”

“Good girl!”

And Shelley never felt so disgusted in herself. She just made a deal with the devil.

Balladeer: Well, looks like things are going to get uprooted around her. And Khas will pay the price…

by: Trix

“K.B.!” Rita laughed as Drifter landed safely on the ground, just after jumping over a creek.
Balladeer: Now, everyone called her K.B. once in a while. See, Khas whole name is Khas Brianne Dalton. Pretty ain’t it?

Khas smiled at her friend. “R.J.!”

Balladeer: Okay, lemme clear this up for y’all. Now they call Khas “K.B.”, they call Rita “R.J.” ‘cause her middle name is Janice. They call Violet “V”. And they call Danny, well…all three of them girls have a different name for him. You’ll see what I mean.

“Did you have to jump that creek?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“For the fun of it,” she smiled slyly.

Rita laughed. “Well…next time let me jump.”

Khas laughed and nodded her head. “Not a problem, we’ll just switch seats.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the General Lee coming up behind them on the dirt road.

“Hey K.B,” Bo greeted over the CB.

“Hey Bo. Whatja up too back there?”

“Oh the usual.”

“You should let Luke drove more often…”

Luke grabbed the CB from Bo and said, “Mightly nice of ya to say Khas. How’s about a race?”

“Back to the farm?”

“You bet.”

Bo added, “Yeah, lunch!”

Everyone laughed at the comment.

They raced almost side by side the whole way. Until the boys disappeared of a road. But Khas knew where they were going and hit the gas petal until it hit the floor. No way were they going to win. She slowed down a bit when she got back on the main road but slammed the breaks when another car almost hit them head on. “Khas!”

The other car, an old Plymouth, had come out of the dirt road opposite the one they were on. Khas and Rita got out of the car and so did the other driver. Khas was about to say something, and make sure the woman was okay, but she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the woman’s face, the face she’d only seen in pictures.

Rita saw the look on Khas’s face and asked, “Khas, are you okay?”

“Khas?” the woman whispered. She was about Khas’s height, an inch or so taller, and had dark brown hair. She had Khas’s skin tone and eyebrows. “Khas Dalton?”

“Who is she, Khas?”

After snapping out of her daze she answered Rita. “She’s my mother.”

Balladeer: Uh oh, here we go.

“Your mother?” Rita said, confused.

Khas nodded.

Shelley looked at her daughter and said, “Khas…I don’t know what to say…”

“How about nothing,” Khas said, not even wanting to have this woman near her.

“Khas…” her mother started, but was interrupted by the General Lee pulling up beside Drifter.

“Khas,” the boys said in unison. “You alright?” Luke asked.

“Been much better.”

“Khas, let me explain…”

“Explain what? That you didn’t want me so you dropped me off at daddy’s and ran off? Or why you never made contact with me?” she said, getting angry.

Luke and Bo looked from Khas to Shelley. “You’re her mother?” Bo asked.

“Yes. Khas let me explain why I left you.”

“No! I don’t want you around me!” And she got back into Drifter, with Rita right behind her.

“Don’t leave her alone Rita,” Luke called to her.

“I won’t,” Rita promised.

Balladeer: Y’all get the feeling those boys ain’t too happy with Miss Shelley?

After Khas peeled away them, the boys looked at each other and then to Shelley. Luke said, “First off, are ya alright?”

Shelley nodded. “And you are the Dukes I presume?”

They nodded back at her. Luke continued. “Why’re you in Hazzard?”

Shelley looked at them as if they’d gone crazy. “To see my daughter.”

“Just like that? Outta the blue? Do you realize…” Bo started to get angry but Luke reined him in.

“Now calm down Bo. Shelley, why are you here, really? Haven’t you hurt Khas enough?”

Shelley said, “I never meant to hurt her. I was nineteen. I couldn’t afford a baby, and I wasn’t gonna raise a baby. Leavin’ her with Gus was the best thing I ever did.”

Bo and Luke couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Bo said, “So you dropped her off without ever thinkin’ twice about it?”

Shelley nodded. “I had no choice. Besides, Gus and Bry loved her so much when they first saw her. I knew she was in good hands. Hands more capable than mine.”

No one said anything for a few moments. Luke broke the silence. “How long are you in town?”

“Just a few days.”

“We’ll see if we can calm Khas down enough to talk to you,” Luke said. “Fer now just let it be.”

Shelley nodded, again. Knowing they were right. She’d never intentionally hurt Khas, but she couldn’t have raised her back then. She just hoped it wasn’t too late to get her back.

“Where can we reach you?” Bo asked.

“I’m staying at a local motel. Here’s the number.” She wrote it down on a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to them.

Bo, who took it, replied, “We’ll call you by tomorrow.”

She gave them a shaky smile. “Thank you.”

Balladeer: Now, they were pretty nice on her, don’t ya think? The question is, can they get Khas to see her mother?

As they drove back to the farm, Bo and Luke talked about the situation.

“This won’t be easy, Luke,” Bo, who was driving, said.

“I know, “ Luke sighed.

“So how’re we gonna go about his exactly?”

Luke thought for a few minutes then said, “I know! Khas has always done the right thing when it counted. And how can she not see her mother and let her explain…”

“…When it’s the right thing to do,” Bo finished, smiling. “Heck cousin! I think we gotta plan.”

“I think we do.”

Meanwhile at the pond, Rita was trying to calm Khas down.

“Khas,” she said calmly, “are ya alright?”

Khas, who had jumped in the water to cool her nerves, replied, “No.”

Her friend’s sharp tone didn’t surprise Rita, for she knew Khas’s temper and moods. And boy was Khas in one dangerous one now. “Khas, are you goin’ to talk to her?”

“No. Why should I?”

“Because she’s yer mother and she deserves to know how you feel.”

Khas thought a moment on that. “Rita, that woman deserted me. Now, I’m glad she did because I wouldn’t change livin’ with my dad and grandfather for anything. But she still deserted me. She never wrote, she never called…heck, she never, even once, sent a birthday card. How am I supposed to forgive that?”

“Khas,” Rita put a hand on her shoulder, “don’t forgive her. Just let her know how things stand.”

“Maybe.”

Balladeer: Maybe them boys don’t have a problem after all.

Bo and Luke beat Khas and Rita back to the farm, as was expected. They told Jesse and Daisy the events of the day. The two Dukes were silent for a moment, then Jesse said, “Now, Khas has always done the right thing when it counted, just as Luke says. But she’s awful stubborn, too. It’s from her granddaddy.”

“What’re you sayin’ Uncle Jesse?” Bo asked.

“I’m sayin’ that if she’s mad enough she won’t talk to her mother, let alone see her.”

“But Khas knows she has too,” Daisy started. “She just doesn’t know if she should.”

“Huh?” Luke replied.

Daisy explained, “Shelley hurt Khas, badly. And Khas doesn’t want to hurt over her mother again. She just wants to avoid that pain.”

“Daisy’s right,” Jesse nodded. “But your plan is a good one, boys. Lets just see if she can do it on her own first.”

Khas didn’t return home until supper time. She had dropped Rita off at home and drove around awhile, thinking about her mother. Rita was right, she should see her mother because she had the right to tell her mother how she felt. How all those years without her made Khas feel like she wasn’t good enough. “I’ll see her tomorrow,” Khas decided as she parked her car at the farm.

She walked in and said, “I’ll be down in a minute, Jesse. I just need to wash up for dinner.”
Jesse smiled at her. “Of course dear. Go ahead.”

Balladeer: Somethin’ tells me Khas won’t be sleeping very good tonight…

The next morning, after a sleepless night, Khas woke up early and did her chores around the farm. She ran into Uncle Jesse on her way to Drifter. “Khas,” Jesse started, “I’m real proud of what yer doin’ here.”

Khas shrugged and said, “Rita was right about one thing: I have a right to tell my mother what she put me through and I have the right to tell her I’m angry.”

Jesse put a hand on her shoulder. “Yes, you do. Just don’t you forget that you should listen to her too.”

Khas replied, “I know. But I’m not promising you that I’ll accept her reason or her apology.”

Jesse nodded. “Just as long as you hear her out.”

“I’ll see sometime this afternoon Jesse.”

“Be yerself, Khas. Let her see that yer daddy and grandaddy did a good job at raisin’ you.”

“I’ll try, Jesse. That I’ll promise you.”

Jesse smiled. “I’ll hold ya to it, Khas.”

Khas’ hand was shaking as she knocked on her mother’s door at the motel. She shut her eyes for a moment and prayed she had the strength to do what she was about to.

When the door opened, Khas stared into her mother’s eyes. “I need to tell you something.”

Shelley shook the surprised look off her face and said, “Of course. Come in.”

Khas sat in a chair by the window and her mother sat on the end of the bed. For a moment Khas was silent, then she said, “I’m very angry at you.”

“I know…”

“Let me finish,” Khas interrupted. “You dropped me off on daddy and grandpa and never wrote, never called, never acknowledged me. How could you do that? How could you just drop me off and never look back?” Khas paused, so she could stop her rising anger. Just be yerself, Khas repeated Jesse’s words in head. “You made me feel so unwanted, so unacceptable. How could you?”

Shelley was not so shy about her tears. They rolled down her cheeks easily as she looked at Khas.

“I deserve an explanation.”

Shelley nodded. “I did want you, Khas. I wanted you so badly. But I was young and careless. I never could have given you the home and love your father and grandfather could. So, one day, I decided that it would be best for you to be with him. I found him in New England and gave my precious angel away to very capable hands.”

Khas listened to her mother. While she understood that Shelley couldn’t raise her at the age she was, she still needed to know one thing. “Why didn’t you stay in touch me?”

“Because I figured that if I did, it would disrupt your life. And I didn’t want that. I wanted to see, hug you but you deserved a better mother than me.”

“Why?” Khas asked again, determined to get an answer.

Shelley took a deep breathe and said the words she had never spoken aloud before. “Guilt. I felt so guilty for leaving you that I couldn’t face you. I couldn’t face the sadness or the rightful anger you had for me. I felt guilty because I caused it. I’m so sorry I hurt you so bad.”

Khas’ emotions got the best of her then. She fought to stop the tear roll down her cheek. “You had no right to hurt me so bad,” she whispered. “But I understand your feelings. Please, do not ask my forgiveness yet. I’m not ready to give it.”

Shelley nodded. She knew Khas was still angry with her but for now, Khas’ understanding would do. “Have you seen the Dalton farm?”

“Yeah. Jesse Duke took me to see it.”

“He’s a good man.”

“Yes, he is.”

All was silent for a few seconds, then Shelley said, “If you’d like, you can join me for dinner tonight.”

Khas said, “I’ll think about it.”

“Call me around six o’clock.”

Khas nodded as she stood. “I’ll talk to you later then.”

Balladeer: Well, that went pretty smoothly. Wonder when the ball’s gonna drop…

Khas managed to get into her car before Rosco approached her. “Good afternoon, Rosco.”

“Hey there, Khas.”

“May I help you?”

“Oh, well…don’t you just get to the point,” Rosco said. “I need you to come to the station with me.”

“What?”

“Just for a moment,” he said before she could start getting angry. “Boss wants a word with you.”

Khas rolled her. “Okay, Rosco. Lets go.”

Khas couldn’t believe she was doing this. Lord knows how many times Boss Hogg had put her behind bars for just living with the Dukes. On the short drive to the police station, Khas realized that she had had such a bad day that seeing Boss Hogg couldn’t make any worse.

So, she walked into Boss Hogg’s office. “You wanted to see me, Boss…”

Boss put down the rib he was eating and said, “Yes. Won’t you have a seat?”

“No thank you. I’m not having a good day and I’d like to make this quick if you don’t mind.”

Boss nodded. “Fine, fine. I just wanted to ask…was that your mother I saw?”

Khas nodded, slowly. “So?”

“Haven’t seen her here for a lot of years…”

Khas interrupted him, her long day mixed with her mood made the accent come out in her voice. “What’s the point Boss? I gotta git home.”

Boss looked at her. “Now you listen missy. No one talks to me like that! Rosco!”

“Yes Boss?”

“Git in here and take Ms. Dalton to a cell.”

“Huh?” Rosco said, confused. Personally, he thought she’d had enough trauma for one day without Boss giving her more.

“Arrest her.”

“Fer what?”

“For raising her voice to me! Now do yer job. Go, go!”

Balladeer: Now, that was underhanded. Though, this is Boss Hogg we’re talking about.

“I get one call, Rosco.”

“Go ahead. Make it fast.”

Khas picked up the phone and dialed Jesse’s number. A woman answered the phone.

“Hello.”

“Daisy?”

“Yes?”

“It’s Khas. I’m in jail.”

“What!?”

“Boss threw me in jail for raising my voice.”

“He what?” Daisy said, shocked.

“Rosco caught up with me when I got to my car, after visiting my mom.”

“Oh, dear. Well, I’ll be right there.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll git Bo and Luke to come over too.”

“Thanks Daisy. Please hurry, I’m not having a good day.”

“We’ll be right there,” Daisy promised.

Balladeer: Poor Khas. I wonder, what Boss really wants her for…

by: Trix

Khas and Rita were turning on to the road that lead to Daniel’s when his father’s voice came over her CB. “Hey Mr. Embers.”

“Howdy Khas,” Aaron Embers said. “Where are ya?”

“About a mile away from your house. Somethin’ wrong?”

“No, no. It’s just that ya might wanna turn around. Danny’s on his way to town to pick up a part fer the tractor.”

Khas looked at Rita and laughed. “Thanks, Mr. Embers.”

“No problem,” Aaron said. You could sense his smile in his voice. “See ya soon, girls.”

“Sure thing,” they both said.

Khas turned Drifter around and headed into town to find Daniel. Unfortunately, not long after they got back on the road, Rosco popped up behind Drifter. She shook her head, “What the heck did we do now, R.J.?”

Rita shrugged. “I don’t know. We ain’t speeding.” Then she added, “Pull over anyway. See what he wants.”

“I know what he wants,” Khas said as she pulled over, “to put me in jail for living with the Dukes.”

“Bad, KB, bad,” Rita teased.

Khas smiled. “Hey, you’re guilty by association.”

“Dang proud of it, too.”

Khas laughed with Rita. Rosco came up to her rolled down window and said, “You girls need ta come with me.”

“For what, Rosco?” Khas asked. “I wasn’t speeding or steeling.”

“Oh, you…I oughta…” he started then said, “You ran a stop sign back there.”

“There ain’t no stop sign back there, Rosco,” Khas said.

Rita added, “You’re upsetting her Rosco. Hear that accent?”

“Well I’m the Sheriff and I say there was a sign back there. Now git outta the car and get into mine.”

“I ain’t leavin’…” Khas started.

“I’ll tell Cooter to come git it when we’re in the car. Now, move it!”

Khas and Rita got out of Drifter, reluctantly, mumbling under their breaths. They got into the Sheriff’s car and Rita said, “This is stupid Rosco.”

“Hey!” he said. “Be careful you…”

The two young women rolled their eyes as Rosco told Cooter to come pick up Drifter. As he talked Khas called from the back seat, “Get Luke and Bo, Cooter!”

“You…kit jit! Bye Cooter.”

Khas and Rita just smiled as they took off to the town jail, or they thought they were going to jail. Two miles up the road Rosco pulled off the main road and on to a dirt road. Khas and Rita looked at each other.

Rita mouthed, “Where’re we going?”

Khas shrugged and mouthed back, “I don’t know.”

“Where’re we going, Rosco?” Rita asked.

“Somewhere Boss said to take you,” Rosco heard his slip of tongue and said, “Oh…darn it!”

“Rosco!” the two girls said in unison. Khas finished, “Where are you taking us?”

“Hush!” was all he said.

Khas sat back against the seat and shook her head. Rita said, “Easy Khas.”

Balladeer: Meanwhile, Bo and Luke met up with Cooter at Khas’s car.

“Did he say why he was bringin’em in, Cooter?” Luke asked.

“Nope,” Cooter answered. “Just said to pick up the car.”

Bo said, concerned, “This doesn’t sound right, Luke.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t. What exactly did he say to ya Cooter?”

Cooter finished hooking Drifter to his truck and said, “He said to pick up Drifter, here. And then I heard Khas say ‘Get Bo and Luke Cooter’.”

Luke and Bo looked at each other. Luke said, “Somethin’ ain’t right here.”

“Think Boss is in on this?” Bo asked.

“I bet he is. And I bet that Rosco ain’t takin’ Rita and Khas to the town jail.”

“What do you mean, Luke?” Cooter asked.

“I mean, if Boss is behind it means that there’s a crook, or crooks, hiding in the background.”

“And they want Khas fer somethin’?” Bo said.

Luke nodded.

“Who’d wanna hurt Khas?!” Cooter asked.

“I don’t know.” Luke shook his head.

“Well lets go find her!” Bo exclaimed as he jumped into the General Lee.

Luke turned to Cooter and said, “Git Drifter to the house Cooter. Tell Uncle Jesse Khas and Rita are missing and we’re lookin’ for’em.”

“It’s done Luke.”

“Thanks Cooter,” Bo said. “And keep an eye out.”

“Will do. Good luck.”

Balladeer: This is gonna be a long day, folks. A long day indeed.

 

Rosco moved the girls into an abandoned barn where Boss Hogg, Huby and Dwayne were waiting inside. Khas recognized them right away. So did Rita.

“Khas, didn’t you beat that guy in the race last year?”

Khas nodded, looking at Huby. “This revenge or somethin’?”

Huby smiled an unpleasant smile. “Jus’ lookin’ fer a rematch.”

“Oh yeah? And what makes you think I’ll give you one Huby? Why should I?”

Huby’s smile faded and anger filled his face. Dwayne stopped him from moving forward and said, “’Cause, if you don’t, we’re gonna make you pay.”

Khas raised her eyebrow at them. “Rita has nothing to do with this, let her go.”

“No,” Huby said. “She’s a part of it now. She stays. Tie’em up Dwayne.”

Dwayne tied their hands together with ropes and pushed them into a sitting position on a bale of hay. “Sit and stay quiet.”

Rosco watched them push the girls and said, “There’s no need to do that boys…”

“Ain’t it time for you to leave yet, Sheriff?” Huby asked.

“Oh, um, I think it is. Just don’t hurt them girls.”

“Lets leave Rosco! We gotten catch them Duke boys,” Boss said as he pushed Rosco out into the open towards the car. “We’ll see you boys later.”

The two men just looked at him as he left. Then turned their attention to Khas and Rita. Huby said, “Just a rematch through Dalton. That’s all I want.”

“This was not the way to go about getting a rematch with me,” Khas said

“Oh,” Dwayne smiled. “A scared Yankee?”

Rita knew what Khas was about to say and jumped in before she could. “She was born the south ya know. She’s only half Yankee.”

The corners of Khas’ mouth twitched with a smile. Huby practically shouted,

“You, don’t talk.”

“Hey,” Khas said, “there ain’t no need to shout at her.”

Balladeer: Ya know, she really does slip into a accent when she’s mad.

Huby glared at her. “You can just keep quiet too. We’re just gonna wait for the Sheriff to git yer car up here and then we’re gonna race.”

“And how, do tell, is this race going to be fair?” Rita asked.

“You and Dwayne are staying at the start and finish line. Jus’ me and Dalton’ll be in the cars.”

“Why don’t you drive me to my car and I’ll race you?”

Huby shook his head. “Nope. We do it my way. And I’m gonna beat you this time. No woman makes me look stupid in front of people. No woman.”

Khas kept her mouth shut about the stupid part, much to Rita’s relief. Bu Rita had to ask, “Where’re you plannin’ on racin’?”

“We start at the town line and go five miles and back. On the back roads.”

“Town line?” Khas started to ask why but it suddenly dawned on her why. “Bo and Luke can’t stop us if we’re not in Hazzard.”

“Bingo,” Huby said, and laughed.

Balladeer: Meanwhile, Luke and Bo had gone back to the Duke farm to meet up with Uncle Jesse and Daisy.

 

“I got hold of Violet and she’s lookin’ out for’em,” Daisy said. “So is Danny.”

“Good,” Luke said. “Between us and them we should find’me in no time.”

Bo said, “I just can’t figure out who would want to take Khas and Rita. They wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Uncle Jesse said, “I know that those girls are innocent of whatever JD’s trying to pin on’em.”

Luke had a thought. “But, what if Rosco was just droppin’em off with whoever wanted to take’em. And Boss made a deal with the whoever they are to get us?”

“That’s good Luke,” Daisy said. “But it still doesn’t tell us who they are.”

“Well,” Bo said, “’sides Rosco who could they have annoyed enough?”

Uncle Jesse said, “Last year, after the race Khas won, the look on Huby’s face wasn’t pleasant. Maybe he wants a rematch.”

“That’d make perfect sense!” Daisy said. “And if Bo and Luke go chasin’ after’em, it would be the perfect excuse for Rosco to throw’em both in jail.”

“We gotta find them girls!” Bo announced as he slid into the General Lee. “Lets go Luke,” he said as Luke made his way into the car. A little too slow for Bo’s liking.

“Keep away from Rosco and JD, boys,” Jesse said.

“We’ll try,” Luke said. “We’ll be in touch.”

Luke and Bo had searched everywhere they knew to look and didn’t find anything. And neither had anyone else. “This is frustratin’ Luke!”

“I know Bo, just keep calm. Somethin’s bound to come up sooner or later.”

And just as he said that, Cooter came over their CB. “This is Crazy Cooter comin’ at ya. We got a slight problem here fellas. Come back.”

“What kind of problem, Cooter?” Bo asked.

“Rosco just confiscated Drifter. All legal-like.”

“Where’s he takin’ it?”

“Don’t know. Looked like he was driving towards the end of town.”

“Thanks Cooter, we’ll git back to ya,” Bo said. “Lets go!”

“Step on it.”

Balladeer: How do you think Boss’s gonna feel when he finds out that them Dukes ain’t in jail yet?

 

“What do you mean they ain’t in jail yet, Rosco!” JD Hogg shouted over the CB, at the Boar’s Nest, at Rosco. “That was the whole point of the deal with those two fellas!”

“Sorry Boss, I’m getting’ the car to them at the edge of town…”

“Rosco that’s perfect!” Boss interrupted him. “If them boys cross the town line, we can revoke their parole!”

“Boss?”

“Just drop off the car you nit wit!”

“Yessir! I’m goin’ Boss.”

Back at the barn Huby and Dwayne had thrown Khas and Rita into their blue Buick and headed towards the town line. Khas knew she’d have to race him…again.

Trouble was, if this was how he reacted when he lost to a woman once, how would he react when he lost for a second time?

Balladeer: Now, who do you think those two drove by when they were drivin’ them girls outta town? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you young Daniel Embers and Violet Chase.

 

“Danny, that was Khas and Rita!” Violet suddenly shouted.

Daniel Embers, who was called Danny, turned his wheat blond head as he stomped on the brakes and turned the truck around. He picked up his CB and said, “This is Buckin’ D, Bo and Luke Duke y’all got yer ears on?”

“This is Luke, what’s up Danny?”

“I just drove past a blue Buick with Khas and Rita in the back seat.”

Bo and Luke looked at each other in relief. “You see where they were headed?”

Luke asked.

“Towards the town line.”

“Could you follow them Danny?” Luke said. “Until we catch up.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

“Thanks. We’ll see ya in a few.”

Danny shook his head, laughing, “Not one single day passes without a car chase in this town.”

It didn’t take him long to catch up to the blue Buick. And it didn’t take long for

Bo and Luke to sneak up his back door either. He slowed down to let them take the lead, but as soon as he did he noticed Rosco, with Cooter behind him, slip in behind him. “Hey guys, Rosco’s here. And Cooter’s behind him with Drifter.”

“Thanks Danny,” Luke said. He turned to Bo and said, “Guess we’re about to find out what exactly’s going on.”

“Guess so,” Bo said, seconds before he slammed on the breaks. Which almost caused Danny to ram their back bumper.

“Bo Duke!”

“It’s the town line, Luke! And Rosco’s behind us!”

“Oh,” Luke said. “Good point. But, hey, the Buick stopped too.”

“On the wrong side of the line, Luke.”

Bo and Luke got out of the General Lee as soon as Rosco and Cooter passed them. Danny and Violet came to stand beside them. “This could be a problem,” Violet said.

“Yep,” Luke sighed. “It could.”

Balladeer: And here we go, off to the races.

 

Huby and Dwayne let Khas and Rita out of the back seat. Their hands still bound by rope.

Bo called, “You ladies all right?”

They both nodded. Rita answered for both of them, “We’re fine guys.”

“Well, that’s good news,” Luke said.

As Huby stood in front Khas she said, “I can’t drive with my hands tied. The car is a standard.”

“Don’t get smart,” Huby said. “Give me your hands.”

She did and he cut the ropes. “Now her.”

“No…”

“Do it, or I don’t race.”

Huby glared at her but did as she asked. Dwayne stood between the two parked cars that were about to race. Drifter against the Buick. The same car she’d beaten him in once. This was going to be easy, if he didn’t play dirty. Her bet was that was what he was planning on doing.

She walked over to Drifter and Cooter gave her the keys. “You okay?”

“Fine Cooter. How’s he?”

“Good. More than good enough to beat his Buick,” Cooter smiled. “Have fun.”

Khas smiled back. “I’ll try.”

A few minutes later, the race was under way. Rita had to stay next to Dwayne and Rosco on their side of the town line. Bo, Luke, Cooter, Danny and Violet on the other side.

“She’ll beat that car easy,” Bo said.

“Yeah,” Danny said. “If he don’t play dirty.”

“Good point,” Luke said. “By the way Danny, are you takin’ her to the prom?”

Danny looked shocked. Violet and Bo laughed. “I, well, uh…yes I am.”

Luke smiled. “You realize if you hurt her, you’ll have the Dukes to deal with?”

Danny nodded. “It’s the prom Luke. And I wouldn’t hurt Khas for anything.”

“I know, just warnin’ ya,” Luke said.

Danny grinned and said, “Wonder what Khas is gonna say about this little chat?”

“We plan on havin’ one with her too,” Bo grinned widely. “Ya know, about boys.”

Rita knew what they were talking about and tried not to laugh as Dwayne stood beside her. Poor Khas, she thought.

Meanwhile, to Khas’s surprise, Huby was racin’ fair. Maybe he had too much pride to cheat at racing. Maybe it was the only thing he does honest, she thought as she drove through the back roads.

They were neck and neck when they approached the finish line. Khas hadn’t been going as fast as Drifter could go, she waited until the last minute to mat the pedal. And, of course, she won. Again.

When she got out of the car, Huby looked at her. He had the same look as the first time, except without the malice. He walked over to her. He held his hand out and said, “You win, Dalton.”

“What?”

“You win. You’re honestly better than me.”

Khas shook his hand, shocked. As was everyone else around her. “Lets go, Dwayne.”

“Huby…”

“Lets go, Dwayne,” he looked at his brother with anger. “She won.”

As they drove away, Rita walked over to Khas, “Who’d a thought?”

“Not me.”

They walked over the line to Bo and Luke. Who gave her a hug. Luke said, “Well, looks like you won.”

“Yeah. Funny though. He didn’t cheat to beat me.”

“Men are that way,” Violet smiled. “Ya know, strange species.”

Everyone smiled.

“Khas,” Rosco said as he reached her. “Here’s the papers to your car. He’s yours again. And I’m sorry.”

As he got into his car she said, “Hey Rosco! It’s okay. Not your fault you hang out with a crook.”

“Huh?” Rosco looked confused for a moment, making everyone smile. “Oh, you mean Boss. You be careful missy or I’ll take ya in for bad-talkin’ a lawmen!” And he drove off.

“Well,” Khas sighed. “I’m hungry.”

Danny laughed. “Then lets go eat.”

“Everyone to the farm,” Luke grinned.

As Khas opened the door to the drivers side and Bo was halfway through the General’s window, he said, “And Khas.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t forget about the prom talk!”

“Oh lord!” she said as she got into Drifter. “Ya had open your mouth, RJ?”

Through her laughter Rita managed to say, “Sorry KB.”

“Yeah right.”

Balladeer: Everyone ate dinner at the Duke farm. And to prove to Rosco that she really wasn’t mad at him she dragged him to dinner too. Boss just ate more after Rosco told him what happened with Dwayne and Huby. Oh, and that talk Bo and Luke promised Khas, ended up with Jesse chasin’em with the dishtowel.

What can I say folks? This is Hazzard, stranger things have happened.