by: Essy Jane

Laurel and Jesse sat together that day catching fish. She seemed determined to catch at least one. Laurel was different than most girls. She had a lot of Jo Anna in her. Adventure was definitely her middle name. Laurel had been Jo’s best friend since she was old enough to say hi. That’s a long time.

Considering Jesse had his father’s tastes, the youthful gal wasn’t too bad at all. She had chocolate colored curls that waved down to her back. Laurel had sapphire eyes like Daisy. Laurel was 5’6, just short enough for Jesse’s liking. She was most kind and wonderful. Jesse did love her and Bo was right, this was the longest he had dated anyone.

Laurel Rhuebottom was always pleased to have Jesse around. She loved the whole Duke family. She was in the same class as Jesse ever since before he could remember. The thing Laurel loved most about the young man was his love for life. She was willing to follow him anywhere because of it.

“Laurel, I have something to ask you,” Jesse began.

“Jess, you know you can ask me anything you want to,” Laurel said.

“Look, you are beautiful and wonderful.”

“Thanks Jesse, are you asking me to go to the beauty pageant with you?”

“Well, umm…”

“You already know it is a yes.”

“I know but…”

“I can fix an engine with my eyes closed.”

“Yeah but…”

“I can be Miss Tri-County easily.” Jesse blushed.

“No, that isn’t it.”

“Well spit it out Jess.” Jesse swallowed hard. He felt the ring in his pocket and wondered if there was a more romantic way of doing this. “Oh Jesse come on, there’s something in that mind of yours and I want to know what it is.”

“Well…” Laurel’s line was being tugged.

“Alright! A fish!” She began reeling it in. “Go ahead Jesse, I’m still listening.”

“Well I think that you’re…” Laurel reeled the fish in. She pulled it off the hook and laughed hard. “I think you’re…”

“I got you!”

“Are you listening?”

“Sorry Jesse, I am listening.”

“You’re a wonderful gal.”

“Thank you Jesse, we got to gut this guy. You want me to start a fire? We could eat them right here.”

“Uh yeah, that would be nice.” Jesse took the fish and gutted them. He watched Laurel as she chopped wood. Jesse smiled—he couldn’t help but to do so. She was so special…his kind of woman. Laurel knew how to please him and how to make him feel happy. She always seemed to carry this special shine.

Meanwhile, in another part of Hazzard, six men were sitting around a campfire doing their own planning. Kay, the father of the five men, glared at his boys. They were being impatient as usual. “You said this would be an easy job,” Haden said.

“Yeah, so far all we have done was sitting here and waiting…for what I don’t know. I thought we’d get the cash from the bank and get out of here,” Eddy mumbled.

“Seems you boys don’t understand what Hazzard is like. Bumbly law men who sure, have their arrests but couldn’t find pros like us,” Kay announced.

“Yeah so let’s go rob the bank then,” Farley commented.

“There is one factor that doesn’t allow us to, Farley. This is what you boys don’t understand.”

“Oh, those dreaded Dukes you keep talking about? Oh Dad, we can whoop them.”

“Farley, I said the same thing. They whooped me. A long time back, when Bo and Luke still drove the General Lee. Now it’s Bo and Luke’s sons…still as witty as their fathers.”

“Oh yeah? Well bring it on! I could take them down with two hands tied behind my back,” Beck cut in.

“No, you must understand, we need to take this slowly. I have an idea. It’s the beginning of the crop season. Bo and his son, Jesse, are gonna pick up some seed at the local store,” Kay commented.

“So what?”

“So, we hit them where it hurts.”

“I still don’t get what you want to do, Pa,” Haden mumbled.

“Don’t you get it? You go against a Duke they bring in the whole shooting match. If you hurt a Duke, they all go to their side and nurse them back to health. So, we get rid of two Dukes and they’re occupied,” Kay enlightened his kids.

“We’ll run them off the road,” Ole declared.

“Ah, I knew you were always the smart one. Okay, here’s how we do it…” Uh huh, these guys are up to no good. I wonder how the Dukes are gonna get out of this one.

Back at the fishing hole, Jesse was still working up the strength to tell Laurel. She had already beaten him out of two times of saying it. Laurel loved to talk. She loved to talk to Jesse most of all because he was really good at listening. “So Mama told me to work at the store next Wednesday and I told her I needed to check my schedule. Then I remembered the farmers came in to get their seed on that day and that you were going to be there so I thought…” Laurel began.

“Marry me,” Jesse cut in. Laurel’s eyes widened as Jesse pulled out the ring. “Laurel Lee Rhuebottom, I had you in my sight since we were in kindergarten. I don’t want to waste another minute without knowing you’ll be the one holding my hand…showing me life’s adventures.”

“Oh Jesse.”

“Will you be my wife?”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” They kissed each other. Jesse leaned in to hold onto her back and ended up burning his hand on one of the rocks. He jumped almost immediately.

“Owe!” Laurel giggled. She looked at Jesse’s hand.

“Don’t be such a baby, Jess. You’re supposed to be romantic here. You just proposed.”

“I sure did.”

Over in the swamp, Paige and Jose were sitting there staring at the stars. They held hands in the moonlight. Jose sighed as he gazed into his fiancée’s navy eyes. Her brown hair fluttered in the wind. “You know, Jesse is probably proposing right now,” Jose mumbled.

“I can’t believe he wants to marry my sister. Laurel is—not like most gals. She is adventurous and fast. She always has her head in the clouds. All that girl ever wants to do is write.”

“And go out with Jesse.”

“Yeah that too. Besides Jose, won’t you find it a little weird that your third cousin is going to be your brother in law?” Jose shrugged. He sighed and leaned back onto the blanket.

“I think it would be neat…kind of weird I suppose. You know, he already feels like a brother. Now it will just be more official.”

“When’s your Dad coming down?”

“In six weeks that is if all goes well.”

“There just won’t be enough time for the honeymoon if they’re gonna get married.”

“Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“I want to have a honeymoon.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“I know you do but sometimes things change.”

“Change? That’s the last word I need to hear. I want time with you, my new husband. Not have to come back here in the middle of all our plans just to…” Jose kissed Paige.

“Maybe we’ll do a duel wedding.” Now Miss Paige Rhuebottom kissed Jose. The young man smiled.

“I like that idea.”

“Maybe that’s too soon though.”

“What do you mean too soon?”

“Bo told me they were moving. He’s giving the Duke farm to Jesse. I guess sort of passing on the family heritage. Bo would rather die then see the farm sold off to a stranger. At least with his son running it he can come back.”

“Y’all have a ton of roots here.”

“You better believe it.”

“Are you afraid?”

“Of what?”

“Leaving here?”

“No, I am doing it with you Paige and you are the best person to do it with. If I was doing it alone, I would be.”

“Oh Jose…”

“You know Paige, I didn’t like leaving New York.”

“It must have been hard to leave your home and not know anyone.”

“Yeah but Bo and Jesse got me through it. Not to mention Jo Anna.” Paige smiled.

“With Laurel then too because as you said, they were joined at the hip.”

“They sure were.”

“Hazzard has been even more of a home to me. You know everyone in this town and it feels like they all care about you more.”

“That’s what makes it harder for me to leave. All I know is here.”

“I am sure that Kansas will be a good place to live too.”

“Yeah, if we don’t get sucked up by a Tornado.”

“Oh relax, where’s your sense of adventure?”

“I guess I’ll find it everyday when I am with you.” They grasped each others hands once again and laid in complete silence. The wind rolled over them softly.

When Jesse and Jose got home that night, Nancy-Lou was jumping up and down in excitement. “You didn’t even tell her yet,” Jose commented.

“Didn’t have to she reads minds,” Jesse answered.

“Jesse, I won,” Nancy screamed.

“What?”

“A trip to Europe, all expenses paid for me and three friends. I have invited Daisy, Lauren and Paige! Oh this is gonna be great. I already told your father. We’re going for two months.”

“Nancy, what about the wedding plans?” Jose asked.

“Oh…I forgot. Well, Essy’s still going to be here. Paige and Essy have very similar tastes. We’re leaving in a week. Don’t worry, I trust you three completely with the babies. I need to get to know my new daughter in law and cousin.”

“Well this is a good way,” Jesse announced.

“She told me she said yes. Lauren and you will make one handsome couple.” The family all laughed. Nancy went in her room and packed after that.