by: Tara

The police officer dumped the hot liquid from the cup out the window and crumpled it, then dropped the cup onto the floorboard on the passenger side of the vehicle. Blue eyes watched the sedan continue on its way. Rosco knew the occupant was aware of his presence. He could tell from how the sedan slowed down until his patrol car had caught up before it began to speed again.

He grabbed the cb mic from the box and pushed the talk button after bringing it close enough to speak into the receiver without yelling. “Alright, Grant Duke you better have a good explanation or I’m gonna run ya in.”

A thick southern drawl answered. “Rosco, I’m just on my way to see Becky. It’s her first day back at work and being away from the baby for more than a few hours. Thought maybe lunch would help her some.”

“Yeah, it probably will. Shame she can’t stay home with ’em.”

“We all gotta do what we have to try to get that farm back. Between the drought and storms the year before that, Jesse had to borrow more on that mortgage.”

“Been almost twenty five years since your folks took that out when the Depression hit.”

“Yeah, probably be another fifty before it’s all paid off at the rate things are going- Thanks for dropping that package off. Becky adored that blanket your mama crocheted for Bo and he favors it over the one that Martha made for ’em.”

“Khee, it was nothing. I was over that way on official business.”

“Seeing you lost a good cup of coffee, let me buy ya one?”

“You tryin’ to bribe me?”

“Just a chance to catch up is all.” Grant saw the sign for the town limit on Route 36 coming up. It was the road that went ran past the County Courthouse and bank. It ran by just about everything in the small business section of Hazzard. Ninety five percent of the area was farms, creeks and swamp land.

“Ok,” Rosco agreed as the patrol car came to a stop a block from the bank in back of the sedan. He put the cb mic down and got out of his vehicle. Grant met him on the sidewalk and the two tall dark haired gentlemen conversed for a few minutes under the watchful blue eyes of a young dishwater blonde dressed in a blouse and skirt, who stood at the bank window that over looked the street.

She reckoned they were discussing Grant’s run with his brothers this evening. What time were they leaving and all that. Becky knew Jesse didn’t like it, but Rosco was a good friend and he watched out for the Duke family like they were his own. He was favored to win the Sheriff election coming up and that was something for only being a year into his chosen career. Everyone in Hazzard respected the twenty six old law officer.

“Excuse me miss, I have an appointment with J.D. Hogg.” A pleasant voice called from behind her.

Becky turned and blue eyes narrowed at the shaggy blond haired man standing on the other side of the counter. “You know he’s over at the county building this time of day. He’s probably going to be leaving for lunch in a few minutes.”

He reached a hand up and touched her cheek. “Maybe I’d like to have dessert first.”

Becky shoved his hand away. “Rosco and Grant will be coming in here, they are right outside.”

“They were heading to the café when I see ’em a moment ago,” A man with resemblance to the first gentleman walked up to the counter. “Where’s the key to that,” He gestured to the door he had just walked in.

She tossed a set of keys at him. “The combination to the vault is four left, thirty right and seventeen left.”

“Did I ask for that?” He snarled.

“No,” She shook her head and stepped back from the counter when another man came in the door before it was locked. “I just figured that would be your next question and didn’t want to waste time.”

“Don’t try to think ahead sugar, can get a pretty face like yours in trouble.” The threesome snickered and huddled for a moment before two of them went toward the vault, the other came around the counter.

“Stop it!” Daney shouted to her cousin who stood in the middle of the Haggard family plot on Boot Hill. She had been observing him for a few minutes. He almost proceeded in knocking over the head stone.

He was so full of negative emotion; she was hesitant to approach the tall blond. Newspaper clippings and court documents told a tale of three brothers who brutally violated a female employee while they robbed the Hazzard Bank.

One of them died inside the building after Grant shoved him hard through the double doors that another fella had escaped out of. Rosco easily captured the criminal but the dark haired Duke crumbled in a heap on the concrete steps. The last robber in the bank shot him and then fired at Rosco.

The Sheriff returned the favor and ended up the only other survivor besides the fella who was captured. He didn’t face murder charges since Becky, Grant Duke and the two other men died of head injuries not gun shot wounds. He was sentenced to twenty five years for assault and battery, bank robbery.

Now all this time later, the fella was bragging that the deaths of Bo and Luke’s folks had been deliberate… to get the Duke family out of the moonshine business. Bo wanted the case reopened; there was no statue of limitation for murder.

Luke wanted it to remain closed. The oldest cousin had a good argument; Rosco had gotten the man put away for the community’s safety with a solid investigation and no matter what happened, it would not bring anyone back.

“What do you want me to do, be a coward?” Bo screamed.

“Absolutely not. I want you to get in the car. So we can go over to Capitol City.”

“What’s there?”

“If you had listened before you ran out, Jesse was talking about going to a handwriting expert. I can’t blame you for leaving the house like ya did,” Daney gave her cousin two options to discuss.

“What can this person tell us?” Bo wiped his muddy boots along one of the markers in the ground.

Daney made no comment on her cousin’s action. “That’s the good news. Rosco found some papers with your folk’s signatures on ’em. So him and Jesse took those over to a lady.”

Bo smiled and sandy eyebrows arched up. “A lady- is she cute?”

“I don’t know. Why don’t we go find out?” Daney offered a hand to her cousin.

“Ok,” Bo took her hand in his and they began to walk down the hill to the Dodge sedan where Luke and Daisy were waiting.

The two older cousins had figured the youngest would come around. The vehicle with four occupants was soon speeding along on Jct. 74 with Daisy at the wheel, Daney riding shotgun, and the boys in the backseat mending their relationship. The scent of wild spring flowers in bloom wavered through the open windows.

“Rosco, why is he doin’ this now?” Jesse was asking the Sheriff when the cousins walked into an office located on Oak Street. There was a large framed picture of fruit and vegetables on the left wall, a book shelf on the right wall with a filing cabinet under it and two large windows that overlooked Maple Street Park.

“Because he’s a coward,” Daisy stated her observation. “I’m sorry y’all but that’s just how I feel.”

“Don’t worry about it cousin, I think we all feel that way.” Daney smiled. The Sheriff, her uncle and the boys nodded in agreement. “You must be Miss Wilder,” She spoke to the woman behind the small metal desk. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Daney. This is Daisy, Bo and Luke. Have you done the tests yet?”

“It’s nice to meet each of you- no I haven’t done the tests yet. I wanted to have all of you here,” She smiled.

“Thank you, ma’am.” The boys grinned and plopped their lanky frames on opposite sides of the desk. The girls took the last two chairs in the office.

Everyone watched Miss Wilder put disposable gloves on. She began to look at the papers that were in front of her using a reticle. Which she placed back in its case a few minutes and grabbed a ruler before looking up at the group.

“I can do more tests if you wish but just from a preliminary exam, I concur with the Sheriff that these documents were not written by the same person. Let me show you why,” She then pointed to one of the papers with the edge of a ruler. “This is characteristic of a right hander.” The ruler moved to the other paper, “A left hander.”

“Is there anyway you could tell us who wrote it?” Jesse questioned the young woman.

“If you have someone in mind, just drop a sample of their known handwriting off here and I’ll be happy to look at it for you.” Miss Wilder replied and fixed her glasses that were slipping down her nose.

“What time you open in the morning?” Daney inquired. She already had an idea of how to go about getting a sample.

“Nine but I arrive at eight sometimes if we have a lot to do.”

“One of us will be here at eight thirty then if that’s alright?” Daisy said.

“Works for me,” Miss Wilder smiled. “If you have any other concerns before then, here is my number.” She gestured to a little box that had business cards in it. Rosco and both of the boys took one.

“Thank you again, miss.” Jesse tipped his red cap at her and followed the others from the room. Outside, the group discussed their next move. After a few minutes of conversation, the white haired farmer went to the post office.

“Hello Jesse,” Miss Tisdale’s eyelashes fluttered and her hands folded nervously on the counter.

“Afternoon, Emma.” Jesse retrieved a plastic number card and set it down.

Miss Tisdale took it and hung it back up. “I hope everything is alright. Talk around town is Bo ain’t your nephew.”

“It’s all a load of cow manure, Emma. That boy is as much Duke as any of us. I’ll tell if I was in an ornery mood- But I got better things to do- Could I have my mail, please?” Jesse brought the subject back to why he was at her place of business. He didn’t care to discuss anything about what had been said or gossiped about.

The post mistress glanced to the mail boxes behind her. The one for the family had nothing in the slot. “You don’t have any, Jesse you’re welcome to stop by my place for coffee if you need someone to talk too.” Emma smiled at him.

He patted her hand and smiled. “I know but right now I gotta get over to the butcher shop. My meat grinder broke.” Jesse paused and rolled his eyes when Miss Tisdale hiccupped after giggling. “So I had to drop some stuff off to them and if I want to have dinner, I gotta get there before they close. Have a good day and take care.”

“You too, Jesse.” Miss Emma waved at him. She began to finish the job of putting the new stamps in the drawer like she had been before he came in. She sighed seeing him head into the flower shop and come out with a bouquet of flowers.

Jesse pulled his watch from the pocket of his overalls. He flicked the cover open with his thumbnail and snapped it closed after checking the time on the big clock in the town square. The antique timepiece was placed back in the pocket and the elderly farmer continued on his errands. He chuckled softly seeing the General Lee and Dixie outside the police station behind the patrol cars.

* * *

Dishwater blonde hair touched the hem of a simple chiffon summer dress. The woman put her arms around Luke’s neck and pulled him close. Moonlight streamed through cracks in the barn roof.

Orange blossom perfume hit his nose. Luke wrapped his arms around her waist in a gentle embrace. His fingers laced together and hands to rest on the small of her back. Her fingers rubbed the nape of his neck. Luke smiled as she laid her head on his shoulder.

The couple stayed like that for a moment. Luke tilted his head and brought his face close to her’s. His eyes closed, and his lips brushed across his companion’s. His left hand slipped and came to grab her hip.

She murmured at the surprise attention. Her fingers came up through the thick locks of dark wavy hair and then to rest on his flushed cheeks. She brought her mouth to his Adam’s apple and planted a tender kiss.

Luke’s eyes flew open at the spine tingling sensation.

The blonde took one hand off Luke’s neck and her fingers came up to stroke along his jaw line. Her other hand slid down to hold his hand that was still on her back. “Why don’t we sit down?” She whispered.

“Alright,” Luke agreed. He allowed her to lead him to the window across from the hay door. His body sunk down on the fleece blanket covered hay bale. A heavy sigh escaped from his throat.

She kneeled and placed her hands on the dress jean covered thighs.

Luke brought his arms down to dangle over the side of the hay bale. “That feels good,” He mumbled when her hands moved to his stomach and began to massage.

“I’m glad you like that,” She ran her palms up his plaid shirt and stopped at his broad shoulders.

Luke closed his eyes and let his mind drift back over some fond memories. She placed her hands on his face and rubbed his temples. She worked her way down his neck, upper torso and legs. His eyes flew open as her hands unbuttoned the snaps of the shirt.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” she turned away.

Luke put one hand in her hair and the other reached to brush fingertips over her cheek. She turned back to him. He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head.

A shy smile came over her lips. She buried her face into his chest and listened to his heartbeat. His kisses and gentle caressing of her hair continued.

* * *

Two pair of hazel eyes glanced around the living full of mounted wildlife. Apparently, Haggard had kept himself busy hunting and fishing since his release. Some of the items looked older. “I’m not sure.” Daney whispered to her cousin. It could be anything from the typical buck head over the fireplace, the raccoon and squirrel bookends or a fish from the shelf next to the gun cabinet in the corner on the other side of a bird display.

“Just don’t seem right,” Daisy whispered. She glanced to the salt and pepper haired man sprawled on the couch, the top of the furniture touched the bottom of the picture window.

Daney wasn’t sure if her cousin was talking about them coming to look for the paper or the critters.

Daisy looked over the head, half, wall, pedestal and custom scene mounts again. In the moonlight, it was eerie and mystic. She felt like she was in a museum after dark. The only thing missing was a full body type. What they needed was a paper no bigger than a bookmark, something Haggard wouldn’t think twice. “C’mon,” She lifted a hand and tugged on her cousin’s long hair.

“Is that what I think it is?” Daney wondered softly out loud. Her hands reached toward a four inch willow hoop. A spider web pattern had been formed inside the circle with twine. Three red feathers hung from brown suede laces. She guessed the dream catcher had been a gift or made by one of Haggard’s daughters. She tilted her head and glanced to the floor. A white slip, the size of a gas station receipt lay on the wooden floor.

She stooped down and using the bandana from her pocket, retrieved the item. It was labeled Ale’s Taxidermy. Viewing Haggard’s son’s name, the paper dropped back to the light colored wooden surface. Payne worked at that particular establishment. The paper would not be helpful but maybe a trip to the tannery would unearth something new. Daney guessed it would be just a wild tangent. She wondered how Bo and Luke were faring with Charity and Grace.

The two women had something in common with the blond Duke. Their father had gone to prison before their birth. The Duke family had not been the only victims of the circumstances. Sometimes people forgot that in only looking at the major details of the ordeal. There were probably folks who wondered how their mother, a law student had given all that up for some one like Haggard. The answer would not be found here. It was somewhere that held a special meaning for the man on the couch.

“Daisy, didn’t the Haggards own the tannery?” She whispered to her cousin.

“Yes. The girls and Payne were too young to carry on the family business.” Daisy replied.

“But the deaths didn’t stop the two hundred year Duke tradition,” Daney paused.

Daisy shook her head in disagreement. “Is that gonna help us find a paper?”

“I think so,” Daney nodded. “It couldn’t hurt to check the business out-” She stopped in mid sentence at squeak of the bedroom door. “Bo?” She thought to herself looking at the tall, wavy blond haired man who leaned in the archway. He returned the woman’s glance with a dark flashing blue eyed stare.

“What are you doin’ here?” He asked crisply.

“Looking for evidence that will clear up a rumor,” Daisy answered truthfully.

“You won’t find it in this room,” He tapped a boot heel on the wooden floor.

“We were just discussin’ that possibility,” Daney said quietly. Hazel eyes glanced in the direction of another noise. The older Haggard shifted in position, appeared to be stirring awake.

Payne made sure he had both women’s attention before he spoke again. “You want someone to take you to the tannery.”

“Not exactly,” Daisy replied.

“If another place is the answer, we’re all for goin’ there.” Daney added. “All we want is for our cousins to be happy again.”

Payne chuckled. “Fantasy ain’t my cup of coffee.” He looked over at the figure sleeping on the couch and back at one of the women. “Why couldn’t you have just gone to the business first?”

Daney blinked in surprise. “Seemed like this would be the best place to find anything.” She sensed something in the man’s demeanor and tone of voice. But the off chance of being wrong kept the brunette from saying more.

Daisy wasn’t quite as shy. “You want to help us?”

“Be a fool not too.” Payne smiled.