by: Essy Jane

The babies were screaming over at the Duke farm. Judd couldn’t make them sleep. “Esmeralda was easier,” Judd commented.

“We adopted her. She was already talking when we got her. Already potty trained,” Essy laughed.

“Well I like kids that way.”

“That’s why you adopted three of them. Marney and Lynn grew up too fast.”

“They all did.”

“Bo and Nancy-Lou are so lucky, they get to take care of these three wonderful, gentle…”

“Loud!”

“They’re always loud.”

“I don’t remember them being this loud…or stinky.”

“Well, parenting comes with its perks and its drawbacks too.”

“Tell me about it. When Marney wanted the nose ring…”

“Well Judd, you should have told her when she was eighteen…”

“And have her look like a bull? Forget it.” The babies continued to whine. Judd looked at Cameron. “Hey kid, I know you’re tired and you know you’re tired. When I snap your fingers you will stop crying and you will sleep.”

“That’s never going to work.”

“One…”

“Never ever going to work…Judd Duke, you might as well quit while you’re ahead.” Judd looked up at his wife.

“How would you know Essy?”

“I used to take care of children for extra money, remember?”

“Well, at this point I’ll try anything.

“Judd, I think I have an idea.” Essy held up some sheet music. Judd grabbed it and examined it.

“What the heck is this?”

“I always hear the boys singing this to the babies.”

“You think it will work?”

“I don’t know. Put them in their cribs. I’ll grab Jo’s keyboard and you grab Bo’s guitar.”

“I play I don’t sing.”

“You want them to fall asleep don’t you?”

“More than anything.”

“Then Poof, you’re a singer.”

“Alright.” Essy plugged in the keyboard and looked at the sheet music. She started playing the notes. Judd looked at the paper as well and played the chords. They started singing the song:

Angel, my sweet angel
I can see you’re tired
I’ll lay you down to bed
Rest your head.

Angel oh my dear Angel,
It’s time to close your eyes
The stars are in the skies

I know you say you’re not tired but please try
I will go on singing this sweet lullaby.

Oh Angel my sweet angel
Tomorrow the sun will rise but
Please close your eyes.

Angel oh, oh my sweet angel
Your dreams are waiting for you
I’ll be there too.

I know you say you’re not tired but please try
I will go on singing this sweet lullaby.

Oh Angel
Oh sweet Angel
Oh my baby mine

Essy looked up from the piano. There they were laying there as quiet as can be. They snuck out of the room, leaving the instruments where they were. Judd closed the door. “It worked,” Essy whispered.

“You know, you still have the prettiest voice in the world Essy Duke,” Judd whispered back.

“So you do, Judd Duke.” They kissed each other softly.

“Hey, you think you can sing me to sleep tonight?” Essy slapped Judd playfully. “OWE!”

“Don’t be a baby.”

“Okay, then you grow up and be my wife.”

“Only if you grow up and be the husband I know that’s inside.”

“Oh, I’m immature?”

“You want to fight about it?”

“Nah, you would win.” Essy giggled softly.

“Yeah, I probably would.”

“Well because your beautiful spirit would distract me.”

“That and punching each other might make the babies wake up.” Judd nodded softly.

“We would have to thumb wrestle.”

“I have a way better idea.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that Miss Essy-Jane Duke.”

“That’s Misses Essy-Jane Duke to you buster.” They kissed again, this time, holding each other close.

Meanwhile, back at the barn, Jo and Lilly were both out of their ropes and cuffs. As Haden came in, Jo jumped right on top of him and beat him up. She put the hand cuffs on him and took his gun. “Let’s see how you like it,” Lilly laughed. Just then she heard the Dixie horn.

“And here we go,” Jo announced. You could hear an explosion from outside. “The Dukes are back!” The five remaining men went out too see what all the noise was about.

“Hello everyone, I am Jose Duke and this is my cousin Coy Duke,” Jose began. Jo walked out and looked at the five men. “Coy, this is between them and us two.”

“Are you crazy?” Coy asked.

“He’s right, this is between them and us two. Our fathers started this, we’re goanna finish it,” Jo added.

“You two are sure?”

“We’re sure.”

Back at the hospital, Bo was laying there wondering about his son. All he could think about was Jesse. That’s when Annie walked in. “Hey cowboy, you couldn’t stay out of here huh?” She said. Bo smiled as he shook his head.

“I’m just happy to be alive. How are you doing?” Bo replied.

“I want to know how you’re doing.”

“I’ll live. I am more worried about my son.”

“Yeah, I heard he was here too.”

“Well, I told him I was leaving Hazzard. He didn’t take it too well. You know, when I heard about it, I didn’t like it too much either. I have lived here my whole life. But you know, Nancy-Lou has given up so much for me. She missed her best friend, Daisy. Cooter and Beverly are living up there together. She wants to be closer to her mom.”

“You need to do things for your wife. Your son and daughter are both grown.”

“Yeah but now, I feel as though I need to stay.”

“Oh Bo, he’ll be fine.”

“I said six months but I don’t know, with the way he is right now…”

“I heard Jose cancelled the wedding.”

“Yeah…I don’t know, I think he wants us to be better.”

“Well yeah, Bo, young Jose loves you. He’s admired you since he came over to the merry ol’ County of Hazzard.” Bo smiled. He pushed himself up a little in his bed.

“You know, ever since he came into our home, he’s been nothing but wonderful. Now, he’s getting married. Luke was sure Jesse would get married before him.”

“I heard Tony’s already married.”

“Yeah, their first anniversary is tomorrow.”

“You’re worried about Jesse aren’t you?” Bo bit on his bottom lip. “You are, after all the things you went through, you’re worried that he won’t make it in married life.”

“No, that’s not it at all. I’m worried that he won’t make it. The doctors say that if he doesn’t wake up soon…well, there could be trouble. They said he might have brain damage or even worse—brain dead.” Bo’s head lowered as he tried to strangle the tears.

“They’ll test their theory.”

“How?”

“By taking him off the respirator for a few minutes and seeing if he can breathe on his own.”

“Won’t that hurt him?”

“No, Bo it won’t. You see, the body has a natural instinct to breathe. If you hold your breath long enough, you will pass out and then you will take in air. Your brain demands it. Some people, they don’t have that function.”

“What kind of people?”

“Quadriplegics…that is, people who are paralyzed from the neck down.”

“Jesse didn’t break his neck.”

“Thank your lucky stars for that one.”

“So if he doesn’t breathe…”

“He’s brain dead. Bo, it could be a factor. He was deprived of oxygen for a long time because of his neck swelling up. They got him to the hospital in time, that’s for sure.”

“I want you to do it.”

“Do what?”

“Test to see if he’s brain dead.”

“Bo…”

“Look, I would rather hear it from you than hear it from some total stranger.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” With that, Annie made her way out of the room. Bo sighed.

“Please Jesse, be okay.”

Over at the Hazzard Bank, Boss Roscoe was madder than a Britain Cow. “You three idiots screwed up. My own son couldn’t catch these morons! I bet it was them Dukes,” Boss commented.

“It was not Boss sir, there were too many for them to be Dukes,” DJ commented. Boss Roscoe rolled his eyes.

“Did I ask for your opinion, DJ?”

“No sir.”

“Sheriff Hogg, keep your deputy quiet!”

“Uh, yes sir Boss, you’ve got it. Deputy Strate, hush,” Sheriff Cletus said.

“Daddy, you know, there were six of them,” Perry mumbled.

“Are you sure son?” Boss Roscoe.

“Yes sir.”

“That’s too many to be Dukes.” Suddenly the bank door opened. The lawmen and Boss Roscoe jumped. They watched as six guys were marched in. Coy was holding the bags of money. Jo Anna was holding the guns.

“Not too many for the Dukes to catch,” Jo Anna laughed.

“Jit-jit, how did you Dukes do it?” Perry asked.

“I should have hired them Dukes as my lawmen,” Boss mumbled.

“And women,” Lilly-Rose corrected him.

“Who says I would hire you as a lawwoman?”

“I’m Boss Hogg’s niece.”

“So?”

“So there, he would want you to.”

“No he wouldn’t, he would want the patrol cars fixed more. Khee, now, git over to the jail house. Josie, get away from my prisoners.

“It’s Jose…like Hose A.”

“Whatever. Cletus, take those crooks off of your cousin’s hands.”

“Yes sir Boss Hogg—I mean Boss Roscoe,” Cletus answered.

“Oh my little fat buddy, you would be so please with me Khee…not with your cousin Cletus or your niece Lilly. No they’re too good. Kee-hee-hee.” With that, Boss made his way over to the jail cell.